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ANECDOTES OE LOYE ; 



BEING A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE 



MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS 



CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF LOVE, 



IN ALL AGES AND AMONG ALL NATIONS. 



BY LOLA MONTEZ, 



COUNTESS OF LANDSFELD. 



Whom neither beasts nor men could turns, 
Nor Juno might subdue — love quelled the sams 



i 



NEW YORK: 

DICK & FITZGERALD, PUBLISHERS, 

18 ANN STREET. 



9>^ 



^S 



Enterkd according to Act of Congress, in the year 185S, by 

DICK & FITZGERALD. 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, tor the Southern D strict of New York. 



In Exchange 
Duke University 

JOM 2 3 1932 



\V. H. Ttn.son, Stereotyjmr. Edw/rd O. Jenkins. Printer. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Preface, 7 

Alexander and Thais, 9 

Aspasia and Pericles, 10 

Love in Babylon, 11 

The Loves of Catiline, 12 

Camma, 15 

The Fate of Fausta, 15 

Love and Surgery, 16 

A Curious Story of Love, 17 

Love and Vengeance, 18 

The Amorous League, 20 

A Humorous Sequel to a Love Affair, 21 

The Loves of Caligula, 22 

The Loves of Ctesar, 24 

An Archbishop untitled by Love, 29 

Eleanor of Castile, 82 

The Loves of a Pope, 34 

Popes Created and Destroyed by Love, 35 

Love in a Dungeon, 36 

A Kingdom lost by Love, 37 

The Story of Abaillard and Heloisa, 38 

The Strange Story of Abassa, 41 

The Charming Yota,. 42 

The Love of Achomath, 44 

The Love of Agamemnon, 45 

Story of the Gentle. Agnes, 47 

Love a great Teacher, 50 

Alegre the Marquis, 51 

Love of a great General, 52 

The fair Anna of Caumont, 53 

Story of Busas, 55 

The Countess de Chateaubriant, 56 

m 



1\ CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The Virtuous Chiomare, 58 

The Love of a Poet, 60 

Cardinal de Richelieu and Marion de Lormes, 60 

Love between Armies, 61 

The Countess of Salisbury, 63 

Oliver- le Da;n, 65 

Duke de Longueville, 66 

Death of the Innocent, 63 

The Story of Lucretia, 69 

The Loves of Mahomet, 72 

Madame de Maintenon, 75 

Love and Religion, 77 

Marcellus and Julia, 7S 

The first Love of Queen Elizabeth, 79 

The Story of Mary Queen of Scotland, 85 

Ravages occasioned by Love, 90 

Maximus and Eudoxia, 91 

Battle of Love in a Sack, 92 

Moliere's Love, 93 

Mascenas, 94 

Heroism and Love, 95 

The Loves of Nero, 96 

The Love of Nicocrates, 98 

The Fate of Obizzi, 99 

The Misfortune of Racine, 100 

The Beautiful Panthea, 100 

A Singular History, 101 

The Mother of Alexander, 102 

The Love of Titus, 103 

Desperation of Love, 104 

The Beautiful Roxana, 105 

A Happy Result, 106 

The Love of Sappho, 107 

Scipio, 108 

The Story of Adelaide, 108 

Vice disclosed by Love, 110 

An unhappy Love, 112 

A Comic Affair, 113 

A Terrible Justice, 113 

An Armenian, . . 116 

Blanche, 117 

The Story of Anne Boleyn, 119 

Love in th Breast of an Old Man, 127 

Richelieu and Buckingham, 128 

Tidius Labeo, 130 

Urraque, 131 

A King defied, 132 



CONTENTS. V 

PAGE 

The Abbot de Ranee, 133 

A Slave's son made King by Love, . 134 

The Virtuous Tanche, 135 

Raymond Lully, 136 

An Amorous King beaten, 137 

How Love Ruined the Republic of Rome, '. 133 

Placidia, ■ 140 

Schism caused by Love, 141 

The Fate of Ovid, 142 

Adalulphe, '. 143 

The Story of Aben Humeia, 144 

Oci issia, 146 

Lusignan, 14T 

A Terrible Fight, 149 

Alboin and Rosemonda, 151 

Buade, 152 

The Crimes of Cleopatra, 153 

Diogenes, , 155 

Caab and the Koran, 155 

The Duchess of Chatillon, 156 

Ethelbert, 15T 

Troubadours in Love, 15S 

Charles II. and Miss Stuart, 159 

A Tragic end of an Affair, 161 

Love Rewarded, ... 163 

The Story of Tourette, 166 

Two Husbands Mourning for one Wife, 167 

The Beautiful Nun Editha, 163 

Napoleon and Marie Louise, ". 170 

Origin of the Stuart Family, 174 

Aristotle in Love, 175 

Ferdinand and Eleanor, 177 

The Justice of Cato, ... 179 

Ancient Free Lovers, 180 

Agnes of Navarre, 182 

A Husband who slept with one Eye open, 184 

A Love-sick King, • 1S5 

The Power of Love, showing how Love almost placed the son of a Jewess 

upon the Throne of England, 188 

Jealousy of Pnncess Jane, 192 

The Beautiful Slave Ababa, 193 

A Poetical Don Quixote, .. ■ .. 194 

The Story of Lothario, 195 

Singular Ambition of a Mistress, 199 

The Emperor Nicholas, 200 

Loves of Henry II., 201 

King John, , 203 



VI CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Ildibad, 205 

A gallant Troubadour, 206 

The Duke of Ireland, 208 

The Loves of Louis XIV., 209 

Harpalus, 211 

Miss Ambrose, 212 

The Intrigues of Queen Eleanor, 214 

Jacqueline of Bavaria, 216 

John I., 219 

The Beautiful Elgiva, 222 

Queen Isabella's Passion, 224 

Otho, 226 

Euripides, 226 

Ogna Sancha, 227 

Tiberius Nero, 228 

The Loves of Edward IV., 229 

The Loves of the Duke of York, 233 

Naivailles, 235 

Love the Founder of Home, 236 

Montmorency, 233 

The Loves of Xerxes, 239 

Francis I., 241 

Madame Giac, 249 

The Loves of Louis XII., 253 

Marion de Lorme, 257 

Margaret of Navarre, 263 

Loves of Henry IV., 269 

The Fair Fanariote, 280 

The Nuptials of Alexander the Great, 285 



PREFACE. 



In writing this volume, I have consulted numerous works of 
historical credibility, my design being to use only such anecdotes 
as have the stamp of truth. I have deviated from this rule in 
but a few instances, such as the story of Aristotle and the fair 
lover of Alexander, which is sufficiently amusing and character- 
istic to gain it a place whether true or not. It is however, I 
believe, as well authenticated as any anecdote can be that is 
connected with that age of fabulous history. These anecdotes 
prove that many of the greatest events of all ages, and of all 
nations, have owed their origin to the tender passion. 

The most subtle intrigues of diplomacy, the most sanguinary 
wars, and the widest and most embittered schisms of the church, 
have been brought about by Love. So that history justifies the 
old poet, who says "Love conqttees all." 

In bringing these strange and fascinating fragments to light, 
out of their ancient hiding-places, in the more elaborate pages of 
History, I have fully adopted the language in which I have 
found them, whenever I could do so without violating the more 
scrupulous refinement of modern taste. Many of the events 
here related are so strange, so startling, almost incredible — that 
I have ventured to alter as little as possible the language of 
their authentic records. I have deemed this course necessary, 
in order to avoid the possibility of being charged with having 
altered or corrupted the facts of history. Therefore strange and 
incredible as many of these anecdotes may be deemed, the 
reader has them as they are recorded in authentic pages. 

Lola Montez, 



ANECDOTES OF LOVE 



ALEXANDEB AND THAIS. 

After the celebrated battle of Arbelles, which decided 

the fate of Darius and that of his vast empire, Alexander 

marched towards Persepolis, the capital of Persia, the 

gates' of which he found open. He gave the plundering 

of the town to his soldiers, and reserved for himself the 

treasures of a king. The palace of Darius was reckoned 

a superb edifice. One evening Alexander gave himself 

up to the company of a beauty, named Thais, who 

begged of him to have that place set on fire. The 

prince, whose reason was drowned in wine, and who felt 

himself incited by the caresses and prayers of a pretty 

woman, took upon himself the trouble of setting fire to 

that splendid building ; the flames soon reached the 

town, and all was reduced to ashes. Thais, according 

to Plutarch, was the favorite of Ptolemy, who was 

king of Egypt. She solicited the ruin of Persepolis for 

no other reason but to make up for the conflagration of 

Athens, and that it might be said that a woman had 

more contributed to avenge Greece than the greatest 

1* 9 



10 AXECDOTES OF LOVE. 

captains had been able to do. The same author adds 
again, that Thais ascended the throne of Egypt along 
with Ptolemy. This was Anno Mundi 3620. 



ASPASIA AND PERICLES. 

Pericles, one of the greatest men Athens ever pos- 
sessed ; on whom all the historians have bestowed the 
greatest encomiums, and who in the most intricate 
affairs displayed a nobleness of soul so rare, still 
betrayed all the weakness and pusillanimity imaginable 
when love was at stake. He was descended from one of 
the first and most illustrious families of Athens. His 
father's name was Xantippus, and his mother's Agarista. 
He was united in marriage with one of his relations, by 
whom he had two sons. But it was not long before 
Pericles began to commit acts of infidelity towards his 
wife, whom he left to love Aspasia to distraction. This 
new passion only heightened the dislike which was 
already predominant between Pericles and his wife. 
They, accordingly, separated without much sorrow, and 
by that means Aspasia became Pericles' wife. This 
woman was of Milet, and the daughter of Axiochus. 
Her behavior, before she became acquainted with Peri- 
cles, had been more than equivocal, since she used to 
keep women of doubtful repute among those of her 
retinue — a circumstance which afforded no little room 
for the sneers Pericles experienced from the poets, who, 
as we all know very well, did not spare him much. But 
his love became only more ardent from the persecution 
he suffered. Aspasia was once accused of impiety for 



LOVE IN BABYLON. H 

having yielded to Pericles, and he went in person to 
solicit the judges in her behalf, and cried bitterly to 
obtain her absolution. It was at the solicitation of that 
woman that he went to war with the Samians ; a war 
which was the occasion of the total ruin of Samos, the 
walls of which were overturned, and the inhabitants con- 
demned to pay immense sums of money. It was again 
at the request of Aspasia that he began the Peloponnesian 
war. Aspasia was irritated against the Megarians, who 
had kidnapped two girls of her retinue, and this Mega- 
rian war was the source whence sprang the Peloponnesian. 
So Plutarch says. It is, however, said that Aspasia was 
not quite the only cause which drew on Pericles the 
sneers and sarcasms of the poets. They also gave vent 
to their mirth against that great man on account of his 
passion for the wife of Xantippus, his eldest son ; a pas- 
sion which that son never ceased to upbraid him with to 
the last day of his life. This was Anno Domini 323. 



LOVE IN BABYLON. 

The celebrated suspended gardens or terraces of 
Babylonia, which the Greeks reckon among the seven 
wonders of the world, owed their existence to the love 
of the Syrian king for his wife. Her name was Amyta, 
daughter of Astyages, king of Media, a country full of 
hills and forests. As that princess, who had been 
brought up there, had taken a great liking for woods, 
she persuaded Nebuchadnezzar, her husband, to try in 
his plantations to imitate nature. Hence came those 
celebrated terraces covered with trees, some of which 



12 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

were even eight cubits in circumference, and fifty feet 
high. The gardens formed a square, each side of which 
was four hundred feet. They formed support to several 
large terraces. The whole bulk was carried by arches, 
on which they had built, so that no water could pene- 
trate through. 



THE LOVES OP CATILINE. 

The conspiracy of Catiline, which came near to over- 
throwing Rome, in part owed its commencement to 
love ; and it was that little god, also, who caused its 
discovery. Lucius Sergius Catiline, whose birth was 
illustrious, seemed only studious to tarnish that glory 
which had been transmitted to him by his ancestors. 
Minister of the cruelties of Sylla, he had acquired great 
riches, which he soon dissipated in licentiousness. Given 
up from the most tender age to his passions, he ruined 
a young person of high birth, who afterwards became 
his mother-in-law. He had also the presumption to offer 
his vows to the vestal Sabia Terentia, and he did not 
meet a refusal. It is known how severe the Romans 
were upon the faults of their vestals ; it required all the 
credit of Calulus to save Terentia and her lover. 

Catiline became afterwards desperately in love with 
Aurelia Orestilla, an illustrious Roman, then a widow, 
who had a child by her first husband. Catiline ardently 
desired her to marry him, but the affection Orestilla 
entertained for her child prevented her yielding to the 
wishes of her lover. Catiline stopped at no crime 
when it tended to gratify his passions. He poisoned 
the child which was the obstacle to his marriage, and 



THE LOVES OP CATILINE. 13 

espoused the mother. Soon after this, his licentiousness 
and prodigality reduced him to misery ; this wretched 
situation threw him into despair, to escape which, he 
abandoned himself to the delirium of his imagination. 
Connected with a number of debauchees as ruined as 
himself, Catiline thought he must overthrow his country 
to retrieve his shattered fortunes. His connections with 
the most illustrious young men of Rome, and likewise 
with several Roman colonies of Italy, made him hope 
his projects would be crowned with the greatest success. 
What still increased the number of the conspirators, was 
a society of licentious young women, loathers of their 
husbands, and given up to crime. In this number, 
Sempronia, the wife of Junius Brutus, was above all dis- 
tinguished. Never had woman more talents than she to 
captivate hearts. To an uncommon share of beauty, she 
joined a charming voice, and all the allurements of wit. 
It was from her school that Catiline drew several of his 
associates. Nothing less was attempted, than to assassi- 
nate the consuls, and above all Cicero, one of them ; to 
set fire to the four corners of Rome ; to massacre a great 
part of the Patricians ; to seize upon their riches and the 
government of the republic. The conspirators several 
times fixed the day and hour to execute their pro- 
jects, but they always observed that precautions were 
taken against their enterprises. The conspiracy was at 
length discovered ; Cicero told it to Catiline in the 
senate. It was then this prince of orators made one of 
those orations which will be the admiration of ail ages. 
Catiline, although discovered, did not lose all hope ; he 
left Rome, and put himself at the head of the troops 
which he had raised in Italy, relying on those friends he 
left at Rome who were not yet discovered to execute 



14 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

what they had agreed to, and facilitate his entrance into 
the city. This hope was vain ; Cicero having obtained 
the most unequivocal proofs of the conspiracy, four of 
the principal conspirators were put to death. Catiline, 
pursued by the Roman legions, gave them battle ; and 
feeling his army give way, listened only to his despair, 
threw himself into the midst of the enemy and was 
killed. Thus ended, with its chief, this famous con- 
spiracy. Among the number of the conspirators, was 
one named Quintus Curius, who had been expelled the 
senate for the number of his crimes. Passionately enam- 
ored of a woman named Fulvia, he had dissipated all his 
property with her, and was reduced to the most extreme 
indigence ; Fulvia had not then the same attention and 
affection for her lover as before. Curius, enchanted 
with the project of Catiline, which he hoped would soon 
put him in a situation to regain the affections of Fulvia, 
whom he adored, had the weakness to intimate to this 
woman the greatness of his expectations ; but he affected 
the utmost secrecy upon all the rest. Fulvia was soon 
informed of all she wished to know. Either through 
inadvertency, or, what is more probable, from disgust of 
Curius, she divulged the secret. Cicero, then consul, 
was apprised of it. He sent privately for Fulvia, to 
draw from her all the necessary information, and like- 
wise engaged her to obtain from Curius a particular 
detail and plan of the whole conspiracy. It was by this 
means that Cicero, who distinguished himself so greatly 
on that account during his consulship, frustrated the 
fatal machinations of Catiline, and saved his country. 
This was in the year of Rome, 691. 



CAMMA THE FATE OF FAUSTA. 15 



C AMM A. 

Sinorix Tetrach, of Gallatia, captivated with the 
beauty of Gamma, his father's wife, tried various means 
to corrupt her. Finding his attempts fruitless, and 
determined, nevertheless, to gratify his passion at what- 
ever price, he put an end to the life of his father. The 
virtuous Camma, conjecturing who aimed the blow, 
retired to the Temple of Diana, there to weep the death 
of her husband. Being ardently importuned by Sinorix, 
she opposed a long resistance to his desires, and she 
knew the place of her retreat was sacred. But she, 
rightly judging, that as Sinorix had destroyed her hus- 
band, he would, in the end, not fear to violate her 
asylum, she feigned a compliance with his desires, 
and fixed a day for their nuptials. Being arrived at the 
temple where the marriage ceremony was to be per- 
formed, she presented Sinorix with the nuptial cup, in 
which she had put a subtle poison. The prince, believ- 
ing he approached the moment of his happiness, drank 
half; Camma took the rest, declaring that she should 
die content, since she had avenged the death of Senatus. 



THE FATE OF FAUSTA. 

Fausta, wife of the Emperor Constantine the Great, 
was the daughter of Maximin Hercules ; having had the 
misfortune to conceive a criminal passion for Crispus, 
the son of Constantine by another wife, she had the 
imprudence to discover her passion to the young prince, 



16 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

who, like Hippolytus, obstinately resisted her allurements. 
It is seldom that rage does not usurp the place of love 
in the heart of a woman who has made unsuccessful 
advances to a man. Faustina, not being able to corrupt 
Crispus, resolved to destroy him. She accused him of 
having made an attempt on her honor. Till now, Crispus 
had conducted himself in a manner to merit the esteem 
and friendship of the emperor, his father ; but to justify 
himself on this accusation, he had nothing but his tears 
and his innocence. On the other side, it was difficult to 
persuade Constantine that tlfe empress would impose 
upon him in a matter of such consequence. It is believed 
that Constantine experienced the most violent conflicts. 
But his fondness for Fausta prevailed ; and Crispus was 
put to death. A short time after, the truth being discov- 
ered, the empress was stifled in a hot-bath, by order of 
the emperor. 



LOYE AND SURGERY. 

M. Festau, a famous surgeon in Paris, had conceived 
for Madame Villacerf, the most lively passion. As he 
had wit enough to perceive the extravagance of it, 
respect made him silent, and his heart alone was the con- 
fidant of these sentiments. Madame de Villacerf one 
day sent for Festau to bleed her. The delicacy of her 
skin, the beauty of her arm, all conspired to revive his 
unhappy passion ; he was so agitated that he pierced an 
artery. A consultation was held ; the result of which 
was, that her arm must be cut off. This operation was 
performed ; but it was then found it would not save her, 
and that there was scarcely hope of her surviving twenty- 



A CURIOUS STOEY OF LOVE. 17 

four hours. Madame de Villacerf showed, throughout 
this unfortunate event, the most heroic courage. She 
would not admit the least complaint against M. Festau, 
"begged that he might assist at all the consultations, and 
left him by her will a sufficient sum to repair the injury 
he might sustain in his profession by this accident. 



A CURIOUS STORY OF LOVE. 

The Count de Gleichen (a German by birth) was made 
prisoner in a battle fought against the Infidels, and car- 
ried into Turkey, where he underwent all the hardships 
of a long and severe captivity. His employment, among 
other servile occupations, was that of cultivating the 
earth. As he was one day thus employed, he was 
accosted, and much interrogated, by the daughter of the 
king, his master, as she took the air. His good mien 
and genteel address wrought so powerfully upon the 
princess, that she promised to break his chains, and at 
the same time to follow him to his own country, provided 
he would marry her. " But I have a wife and children," 
replied the count. " That," answered the princess, " will 
not be an impediment ; it is the custom in Turkey to 
have several wives." Considering liberty as the most 
precious of all human possessions, the count did not 
make any further objections, but expressed his gratitude, 
and engaged his word to the princess. She employed 
herself to such advantage, that the count soon after 
found himself at liberty, and embarked with her. They 
arrived without interruption at Venice, where the count 
found one of his gentlemen, who informed him of all that 



18 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

had happened during his captivity. From this domestic 
he learned that his wife and children were well; and 
before he allowed himself the pleasure of embracing them, 
he went to Rome ; and after having related the whole 
of his singular case to the Pope, the pontiff gave him 
permission to keep his two wives. If the Court of Rome 
had shown complaisance upon this occasion, the wife of 
the count could not do less ; she loaded the Turkish 
princess, to whom she was indebted for the return of her 
beloved husband, with caresses and marks of friendship. 
The princess was sensible of, and returned all these civili- 
ties ; she had no children, but was .not the less attached 
to the children of the other. 



LOVE AND VENGEANCE. 

Goncalo Gustos, Lord of Falas and of Lara, de- 
scended from the Counts of Castile, had seven sons by 
Dona Sancha, sister of Ruy Velasquez, Lord of Bylarau. 
These were known by the name of the seven children of 
Lara. Being in the flower of their age, they assisted at 
the nuptials of Ruy Velasquez, their uncle, who married 
Dona Lombra. During the nuptial rejoicings, a warm 
dispute arose between Goncalo Gustos, the youngest of 
the children, and Alvare Sanchez, cousin of the bride. 
This quarrel was attended with the most fatal conse- 
quences. A few days after, Dona Lombra went to 
Barbadilla, and took the children with her. Desirous 
of punishing Goncalo, because perhaps he had not 
treated her cousin with sufficient respect, she ordered 



LOVE AND VENGEANCE. 19 

one of her slaves to daub his face with a cucumber dipped 
in blood. The slave obeyed, and was put to death by 
the children at the feet of his mistress. Dona Lombra 
vowed to revenge this injury in a signal manner ; and as 
she had inspired her husband with a lively passion for 
her, she had not much trouble in making him espouse 
her cause. Velasquez, the better to execute the cruel 
vengeance he meditated, pretended a reconciliation with 
his brother, who had taken part with his children, and 
requested him to go on his behalf to thank Hissem, 
king of the Moors, for a favor he designed to grant 
him. Gustos departed, being charged with a letter to 
the king, in which Velasquez informed him, " That he 
had no enemies so great as the seven children of 
Lara, and their father." Hissem not suspecting the 
falsehood of this advice, given him by the uncle of the 
the children, himself caused Gustos to be seized and 
thrown into prison, and dispatched a party of his troops 
to apprehend his sons. The treacherous Velasquez took 
care to have them conducted to a place he mentioned, 
with few attendants, under pretence of their going to 
meet their father. They presently found themselves 
surrounded by the Moors, who threatened to take their 
lives if they did not surrender. They, notwithstanding 
these menaces, defended themselves with astonishing 
bravery, but the number of their enemies necessarily 
prevailed ; one of the brothers was killed in the combat, 
the six others were taken with their governor, and put 
to death. Their heads were carried to Hissem, who was 
so touched with the misfortune of these young lords, 
that he set their father at liberty. Love had lightened 
the chains of Gustos, and prepared for him a resource in 
his misfortunes ; he had the address to please the sister 



20 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

of the king, and on Ms departure left her proofs of his 
affection. 

She had a son, whom she called Mudara Goncalis. 
When Mudara grew toward maturity, and learnt that 
he was the son of Goncalo Gustos, he asked and obtained 
permission to go and see his father. The tender recep- 
tion which he received so entirely attached him to the 
author of his being, that he received baptism, and would 
never after leave him. Being informed of the cruel 
death of his brothers, he thought they ought to be re- 
venged. He killed Velasquez ; and having seized Dona 
Lombra, the author of all the mischief, caused her to be 
stoned to death and afterward burnt. This terrible ven- 
geance gained him the friendship of Dona Sancha ; she 
adopted him for her son ; and by this means he became 
sole heir to all that appertained to the house of Lara. 
It is from him that are descended, the Maurequez de 
Lara in Spain ; and among others, Malfa de Maurique, 
the wife of Alphonso Henriquez I. king of Portugal. 



THE AMOROUS LEAGUE. 

M. Sainte Foix, in his historical essays on Paris, 
speaking of the manners of the thirteenth century, men- 
tions a very extravagant society of fanatics, which went 
by the name of La Ligue des Amans, that is to say, the 
Amorous, or the Lovers' League. Their scheme was to 
prove the excess of their love, by their invincible ob- 
stinacy in withstanding the seasons. The knights, the 
equerries, the married and single ladies who were initiated 
into that order, were bound according to their rules of 



A HUMOROUS SEQUEL TO A LOVE AFFAIR. 21 

the institution, to cover themselves very scantily in the 
most frosty weather, and very warmly in the hottest 
clays of summer. In this last season they lighted great 
fires, with which they warmed themselves, as if they stood 
in the greatest want of it. In the winter, it would have 
been a shame and a sin to find the least spark of fire in 
their houses. Their chimneys, in that cold season, 
were trimmed with green foliage. As soon as one 
of them entered a house, the husband took great care 
that his guest's horse should want for nothing, and left 
him master over everything in the house, to which he 
never returned till he was gone. Then, if he were of 
the same brotherhood, he met likewise with the same 
treatment and the same complacency from the husband, 
whose wife was the object of his cares and his visits. 
This ridiculous society existed till the greatest part of 
those chilled lovers starved with cold, or died one 
after another, with the lie in their mouth, by protest- 
ing how ardent were the flames which burned in their 
hearts. 



A HUMOROUS SEUUEL TO A LOYE AFFAIR. 

An English girl, between fifteen and sixteen years of 
age, being softly solicited, and at last persuaded by her 
father's apprentice, suffered herself to be run away with. 
In order to put the scheme in execution, they found 
themselves under the necessity of dressing in disguise ; 
and out of a thousand among which the fugitive couple 
might have chosen, their unlucky star made choice of a 
plan which was sure of miscarrying. They took it into 



22 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

their headsto disguise themselves in sailor's clothes, 
and at that very time, there was a very hot press go- 
ing on in England. Hardly were our lovers looking 
on themselves as out of danger, when they met the 
terror of the maritime gentry, a press-gang. They 
were taken up, and in spite of all their clamors, were 
carried on board the tender. Both appeared before the 
Captain, who, having heard their complaints, thus an- 
swered the fair captive : 

" Say what you will, my dear heart, I must keep you 
both; and for a very good reason : the king wants your 
lover, and I want you." They say the young man, 
furious at this judgment, tore his hair, and that the fair 
maiden made the best of her circumstance. Girls are so 
reasonable ! This was as late as 1776. 



THE LOVES OE CALIGULA. 

A celebrated author observes, that we cannot utter 
the name of Caligula without reviving ideas of the 
greatest wickedness man is capable of. The criminal 
love which, in his most early years, he entertained for 
his sister Drusilla, and which he retained after the death 
of that wicked woman, caused him to commit the most 
incredible extravagancies. He had first given her in 
marriage to Cassius Longinus ; but soon after took her 
away, and lived with her as his lawful wife. After the 
death of this princess, he caused the Romans to rank her 
among the immortals. They set up her statue in gold, 
in the Senate; and raised another in the Forum, to 



THE LOVES OF CALIGULA. 23 

which they paid the same honors as to Venus. They 
consecrated a temple particularly to her; the women 
were bound to swear by her name ; and the day of her 
birth was distinguished by the same games as those of 
Cybele. During the public mourning, which Caligula had 
appointed for her, it was a crime to laugh, to enter the 
baths, or eat in public. A poor man, who had sold some 
worm-drink, was put to death as guilty of impiety. 
Caligula no longer swore by the senate or the army, 
but by the divinity of Drusilla. A senator named Livius 
Germinus had the baseness to affirm, that he had seen 
Drusilla ascend to heaven. Behold what the 1* ^mans, 
these masters of the world, would do for a woman, and 
such a woman, too ! After the death of Sejan, who. was 
at last punished for his crimes, Caligula thought seriously 
of taking the shortest way to attain the empire. Ma- 
cron, chief of the Roman cohorts, was not easily gained. 
It was therefore dangerous to make a confidant of him. 
Caligula having lost Junia, his wife, addressed his 
attentions to the wife of Macron, whom he promised to 
make empress. Macron, though dishonored by his wife, 
was still so imprudent as to give Caligula free access. It 
w r as not long before Tiberius was poisoned ; others say, 
that Caligula hastened his death by smothering him 
with a pillow. Arrived at the highest honors, Caligula 
employed them only to gratify his passions. Being 
present at the nuptials of Livia Orestilla, who espoused 
Caius Pison, after the solemnities were performed, 
he commanded the bride to be forced to his palace. 
He became enamored of Lollei Paulin, upon the sole 
account of its being said that her grandmother had been 
perfectly handsome ; as she accompanied Caius Mum- 
mius, her husband, who commanded in the army, Cali- 



24 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

gula recalled him, and constrained him to give up all 
pretensions to his wife, whom he espoused himself, but 
presently after divorced. He frequently invited persons 
of the highest quality to supper, and whilst the women 
passed before him, examined them with a curiosity, 
which the *most abandoned licentiousness could only 
admit, and when shame caused them to drop their 
heads, he would with his hands, force them to look up. 



THE LOYES OF CJ1SAR. 

Julius Caesar, whom fortune had elevated to the 
highest degree man can aspire to, was near perishing, in 
the beginning of his career, for a woman. After having 
divorced Ceffueia, aged seventeen years, without con- 
summating his marriage, he espoused Cornelia, the 
daughter of Cinna, distinguished by four consulships; 
and by this marriage was born the celebrated Julia. 
Sylla, who was then dictator and all-powerful at 
Rome, exerted every effort to engage Caesar to divorce 
Cornelia, but could not prevail. 

This attachment, so passionate and so constant, in an 
ambitious young man, cost him the priesthood, the 
dower of his wife, which was considerable, the wealth 
which might descend to him ; and, in short, Sylla gave 
orders to arrest him ; and, to escape death, Caesar was 
obliged to conceal himself, by changing his place of resi- 
dence every night, although he had an ague ; and he had 
to distribute money with a liberal hand to those who 
were employed to seize him. He at last obtained favor 



THE LOVES OF CJESAR. 25 

through the solicitation of the vestals. It was then that 
Sylla foresaw the future greatness of this young Roman. 
It is known that Caesar afterwards did not retain his 
former constancy to the fair sex. He espoused, in his 
third marriage, Pompeia, daughter of Quintus Pompius 
Rufus. She had, however, been seduced by the cele- 
brated Clodius ; but she was so closely watched by Caesar 
and her mother-in-law, that she could not obtain a favora- 
ble opportunity of seeing her lover. She thought, how- 
ever, to accomplish this by a trick. The day on which they 
celebrated the rights of Yenus at her house, Clodius, dis- 
guised in woman's clothes, passed for a singer, and was 
introduced among the rest. Unfortunately he was dis- 
covered, and Pompeia divorced. " It is not enough for 
the wife of Caesar [said he in dismissing her] that she 
should be innocent, she must also be exempt from suspi- 
cion." But it is certain, says an author, Caesar was per- 
suaded of his wife's infidelity. Caesar, not content with 
divorcing his wife, resolved to pursue Clodius. The 
prosecution was at first suspended, on account of the 
triumph of Pompey, who returned from Asia ; but 
afterwards, Caesar pursued it with great spirit against 
Clodius. Happy for the latter, all were venal at Rome ; 
money and love saved him. 

Of his judges, some were gained by money, others by 
their mistresses. Cicero himself, the consul, so formida- 
ble to Catiline, took the part of Clodius, because he was 
passionately in love with Clodia, his sister. This con- 
nection was so public, that they jested upon it at Rome; 
but Terentia, the wife of Cicero, who had the ascen- 
dency over her husband, and who feared that his attach- 
ment to Clodia misrht induce him to divorce her, obliged 
him to depose against Clodius. Nevertheless, this de- 

2 



26 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

position, and the acknowledged crime of Clodius, did 
not prevent his being acquitted. 

Upon Caesar's return from Spain, where he had at 
length subdued all to the republic, he made interest for 
the consulship. Pompey and Cassius were in those 
times all-powerful in Rome. Caesar had the address 
to unite the interests of these two great men, and join- 
ing his own with them, formed that triumvirate which 
ended in the destruction of the Roman republic. 

One of the first advantages Caesar drew from this 
union was the consulship ; nevertheless, the power and 
high reputation of Pompey gave umbrage to Caesar, 
who undertook to bring over that great man wholly to 
his party, and he succeeded. Caesar had a daughter, 
whose striking beauty was enhanced by a virtue, the 
more estimable, as corruption was then general at Rome. 
Many solicited the hand of Julia, but Pompey was pre- 
ferred before all his rivals. From this moment he only 
saw through the eyes of his wife, whom he adored ; and 
Julia had no other will but that of Caesar, her father. 
" Thus, by bonds of the heart, Pompey became the 
slave of Caesar, without perceiving it." The union of 
these two great men continued during the life of Julia, 
whom Pompey was accused of loving too well ; but this 
estimable woman died, and it was not long before Pom- 
pey and Caesar were at variance. It is known that 
Pompey, subdued by Caesar, took refuge in Egypt, 
where he was assassinated ; and that his vanquisher was 
not able to forbear shedding tears on seeing his head, 
which they brought to him. Soon, however, he just 
escaped perishing himself, and love in procuring him 
the greatest favors, conducted him to the brink of a pre- 
cipice. 



THE LOVES OF (LESAE. 27 

The kingdom, of Egypt was at that time rent by 
internal divisions. Ptolemy Aulites, being dead, had 
ordered, by his will, that Ptolemy Dionysius, his eldest 
son, should espouse his sister, Cleopatra, the eldest of 
his daughters, and that they should reign together. 
The ministers of the young prince refused to fulfill this 
last clause, and forced Cleopatra to seek protection in 
Syria. She was there when Caesar embarked for Alex- 
andria — which she no sooner heard of, than she hastened 
to him to plead her own cause, certain that her charms 
would incline the balance on her side. She was not mis- 
taken. Caesar had a lively penchant for the women, and 
the sight of Cleopatra alone was calculated to excite the 
most passionate love. In the floAver of her age, there 
was united in her face all the traits that form the most 
captivating beauty ; and to these charms she joined the 
most sprightly and fascinating wit. From the moment 
she appeared before Caesar, she made all the impression 
she could. Possession but increased his passion, and this 
Roman, this hero, who, in the battle of Pharsalia, con- 
quered the universe, and whose presence was absolutely 
necessary at Pome to destroy the remaining partisans 
of Pompey, in the arms of Cleopatra appeared to forget 
that he was Caesar. So wholly was he lost in voluptuous 
pleasures. From this moment the dispute between 
Cleopatra and her brother was determined ; love gave 
a queen to Egypt, and Ptolemy, in spite of the last will 
of his father, found himself overcome by his sister. 
This decision, dictated by love, put Caesar in the greatest 
danger of his life. 

Achillas, minister of the young prince, was at the 
head of an army of Egyptians, numerous and well-disci- 
plined; he was the declared enemy of Cleopatra, and 



28 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

judged that, if she ascended the throne, he could only 
expect death. Thus situated, he resolved that the 
princess and her lover should perish ; and the enterprise 
appeared to him easy. Caesar, who had brought with 
him but few troops, was not in a situation to make head 
against Achillas. Shut up in the palace of Alexandria, 
he saw himself besieged by the Egyptian army, having 
against him all the inhabitants of the city, and no other 
resources but his good fortune, his valor, and his genius. 
He could, it is true, easily have escaped by his ships, but 
to leave his dear Cleopatra to the mercy of a furious 
populace, was what he could not do. His embarrassment 
was presently known in the neighboring countries, and 
they hastened to the assistance of him who w T as soon to 
give laws to the universe ; but the Egyptian fleet op- 
posed the passage of these liberators. Many battles 
were fought, in which Caesar was several times on the 
point of losing his life. The death of Ptolemy put an 
end to these troubles. Caesar had now only to place the 
diadem on the head of Cleopatra ; he declared her 
sovereign of Egypt, gave her in marriage to her young 
brother, then an infant, and after having languished nine 
months in indolence, he at length recollected that affairs 
of the utmost importance called him to Rome. He 
quitted Alexandria with regret, leaving with Cleopatra 
an infant, who bore the name of Caesarion. 

Caesar, in the height of his glory, and while absolute 
master of the universe, did not forget his beloved Cleo- 
patra ; he boldly invited her to Rome, lodged her in his 
palace, and seemed to pay little attention to the murmurs 
which this scandalous conduct excited. The Spanish war 
once more tore him from the arms of the woman he 
adored, and he sent her back loaded with honors and 



AN ARCHBISHOP UNTITLED BY LOVE. 29 

gifts. His passion for this princess was so violent that he 
drew up an edict, which permitted every man to have as 
many wives as he pleased ; and this was solely to render 
his marriage with Cleopatra lawful, and to legitimize the 
young Caesarion, who was the true portrait of his father. 
We will not conclude this article without observing a 
fact, that proves how much the senate was debased in 
the time of Caesar ; they deliberated whether they should 
not grant him the privilege of possessing every woman 
he pleased. 



AN ARCHBISHOP UNTITLED BY LOYE. 

Gebhar Tritchses, baron of Walbourg, was the son 
of William, and nephew of Otho, Cardinal of Aus- 
bourgh, who died in 1573. He was ordained Arch- 
bishop and Elector of Cologne, in 1577, at the age of 
thirty; and appeared in character of Deputy to the Em- 
peror, at the famous assembly of Cologne, for the purpose 
of trying to effect a peace between the emperor and the 
United Provinces. There it was that the prelate became 
acquainted with Agnes, the daughter of John Georges, 
Count of Mansfield, and Canoness of Gurisheim, with 
whom he became passionately in love. This passion, 
was so publicly talked of, that the brothers of Agnes, 
irritated by the scandalous assiduities of the Elector 
toward their sister, threatened to wash away in his 
blood, and in that of their sister, the injury done to their 
house. Truches was too much enamored to hesitate an 
instant ; he promised to renounce all ecclesiastic dig- 
nities, to marry Agnes. Nevertheless, the Archbishopric 



30 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

de Cologne was an object of sufficient importance to occa- 
sion his regret ; the prelate would willingly have re- 
tained the one and possessed the other. They persuad- 
ed him that this was not difficult, and that by embracing 
Lutherism, he could marry his mistress and remain 
Archbishop de Cologne. Love decided it, he espoused 
Agnes, and carried her to the Episcopal Palace. 

This marriage was for some time kept secret, but 
strong suspicions of it arising, the Chapter of Cologne 
resolved to bring the prelate to an explanation, and took 
up arms against him. In this critical situation Truches 
threw aside the mask, and publicly declared his marriage 
at Rosenthal, which imprudent step hastened on his 
ruin. The Emperor Rodolphus declared himself for the 
Chapter, and the Pope after having for some time de- 
bated upon the punishment he should inflict, issued ex- 
communication against Gebhar. The Canons, on their 
side, proceeded to an election, and the choice fell upon 
Ernestus, of Bavaria, already Bishop of Thesingue, of 
Hildesheim, and of Liege — war must of necessity decide 
the difference. The Protestant princes of Germany 
took up arms in favor of Gebhar. The electors and 
princess, being assembled at Frankfort, proposed a 
means of accommodation to put an end to the miseries 
inseparable from war. Their proposal was, that Gebhar 
should resign his dignity of elector and archbishop, in 
favor of Ernest; reserving to himself a pension suffi- 
cient to support him honorably. Gebhar consented to 
give up the title of archbishop, but insisted upon re- 
taining the dignity of elector with Westphalia; this 
irritated the princes, and they resolved vigorously to 
prosecute the war. The siege of Bonn, where Charles 
Truchses, brother of the prelate was shut up, concluded 



AN ARCHBISHOP UNTITLED BY LOVE. 31 

the war. Charles was delivered to the enemy by his 
own troops, who seized upon the city. Gebhar, deprived 
of every resource, retired with his wife (the only com- 
fort left him) to Delf, in Holland, to the court of the 
Prince of Orange. It was not long before this prince 
received a mortification very humiliating. He had 
always relied upon the protection of Queen Elizabeth ; 
and on his arrival at Holland, wrote to that prmcess to 
ask succors and leave to retire into England. The 
queen sent him two thousand crowns, but refused to 
grant the permission he requested. Truches thinking 
that his wife, through her beauty and address, would 
obtain more than he had by his letters, sent her into 
England. Madame Truchses thought she could not 
do better than to solicit the Earl of Essex to speak 
in her favor to Elizabeth, which he accordingly did. 
The earl, either from gallantry or compassion, gave 
Madame Truchses apartments in his house, and loaded 
her with civilities, waiting for the return of the queen, 
to speak in her behalf. That princess, informed of ajl 
that had passed, conceived the most violent jealousy; she 
sent a message to this unfortunate lady, to leave Eng- 
land immediately, and forbade the earl to appear before 
her till Madame Truchses had quitted London. She 
soon after rejoined her unfortunate husband, who 
finished his life in poverty and grief, in 1584, 



32 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 



ELEANOR OF CASTILE. 

james I., king of Aragon, surnamed the Conqueror, 
■was a prince worthy of the highest eulogium for his 
abilities in appeasing the troubles of his States, and for 
restraining those, who would have occasioned disturb- 
ance among his neighbors, by his bravery, which some- 
times imprudent but always fortunate, gained him con- 
siderable conquests over the Moors. He took possession 
of the isles of Minorca and of Majorca, and the king- 
dom of Valencia ; everything was favorable for the happi- 
ness of this prince, had not love and woman troubled 
his repose. Married to Eleanor of Castile, in the most 
tender age, James earnestly sought, during several 
years, the means of a separation from a wife whom he 
loved not. Having at length accomplished it, he became 
enamored of a young lady of quality named Theresa 
Vidaura, of Catalonia. He believed that a king of Ara- 
gon, when avowing his passion, was not made to ex- 
perience a repulse ; he found, however, in his mistress a 
resistance that astonished him, and increased his desires. 
Theresa, whether from virtue or ambition, would grant 
nothing without the title of wife. James, passionately in 
love, consented to the ceremony, in private, the Bishop 
of Gironne being the only confidant. 

In the meantime, the Aragonese, ignorant of this 
clandestine union, pressed their king to marry. James, 
already disgusted with Theresa, yielded to the importu- 
nities of his subjects and married Zoland, daughter of 
Andre, kmg of Hungaria. Theresa, the unfortunate 
Theresa, in vain opposed this union. Several* years were 
passed, when she carried her complaints, supported by 



ELEANOR OF CASTILE. 33 

the testimony of the Bishop of Gironne, to the pope. 
The pope, who had already made some remonstrances 
to the king, renewed them with greater force when the 
testimony of the bishop had cleared him of the mystery. 
The Aragonese prelate was first sacrificed to the firry 
of James, who caused his tongue to be cut out. The 
pope upon this laid aside all indulgence, excommunicated 
the king, and laid an interdiction upon his kingdom. 
It is known what impression such arms made in those 
ages of ignorance. James, in spite of his pride, was 
obliged to yield, and submitted to a public and very 
humiliating penance. Upon his knees, and prostrate at 
the feet of the bishops, he received absolution, and sub- 
mitted to the penance they judged proper to impose on 
him. To this mortification was added the temper of 
the Queen Zoland, who complained grievously, and 
with reason. After the death of this princess, Theresa 
Vidaura had again recource to the pope, to declare her 
marriage lawful; another subject of mortification for the 
king, who, in some measure to appease this wife, did not 
marry at all. 

" James, said a celebrated historian, loved women, 
and this unfortunate penchant made him fall into disor- 
ders which tarnished the glory of his actions, troubled 
the repose of his people, and mingled great chagrin 
with the prosperity of his life." 



2* 






34 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 



THE LOVES OP A POPE. 

Pope John XII. succeeded Agapit II. He was named 
Octavius, and was son of the patrician Alberic. This was 
the first pope who changed his name. He was at the 
age of eighteen or nineteen when he was raised to the 
pontifical chair. This dignity and his riches induced 
him to give himself up to his passions, and his conduct 
became an infamous reproach. Berenger, who then 
reigned in Italy, had, it is said, greatly contributed 
towards the election of John, hoping that his tyrannic 
conduct would not receive any contradiction from 
so young a pontiff; others pretend that John was 
elected by the care of Alberic, his father, son of the 
famous Marofia, and who had the consulship given him. 
Be it as it might, the Italians, cruelly oppressed by 
Berenger and Adalbert, his son, sent to offer the crown 
to the Emperor Otho I. This prince sent to their suc- 
cor his son Ludolphe ; but this young prince dying, 
Berenger redoubled his opj:>ressions and cruelties. John 
XII. had then himself recourse to Otho, and engaged 
him to come into Italy. The emperor profited by this 
circumstance ; victory followed him ; he deprived Beren- 
ger of his kingdom with the greatest facility, and was 
himself crowned King of Lombardy, and afterwards 
emperor at Rome. Scarcely had he left this city, when 
the pope, from an inconstancy worthy of his age, recalled 
Adalbert, son of Berenger, to Rome, and exercised the 
most cruel vengeances towards the Romans. On the 
arrival of Otho, they escaped to him. The emperor then 
held a council composed of bishops, in which they 
solemnly deposed John, and nominated in his stead 



POPES CREATED AND DESTROYED BY LOYE. 35 

Leon VIII., a Roman by birth. These revolutions con- 
tinued only during the sojourn of Otho at Rome ; soon 
after his departure, the women whom John had kept in 
this city found means to give him entrance. He sig- 
nalized his return by all sorts of cruelty ; caused the 
right hand of Cardinal John to be struck off, and also 
the tongue, two fingers, and nose of his secretary ; and 
Otgar, Bishop of Spire, to be whipped. Leon was so 
happy as to save himself. John did not enjoy his tri- 
umph long ; he was killed in his bed, in which was found 
a Roman lady. The report was then circulated, "that 
a demon had killed him ; but it is more probable that 
this pretended demon was the husband of the lady, who 
had resolved to revenge the injury done him by the pope. 



POPES CREATED AND DESTROYED BY LOYE. 

Pope John X. was solely indebted to love for his 
elevation to the Sovereign Pontificate. Theodora and 
Marofia, his daughters, both celebrated on account of their 
beauty and licentiousness, were absolute mistresses of 
Rome. Theodora having seen John, who was then only 
deacon at Ravenna, and very young, became enamored 
with him, and she caused him to be raised to the dignity 
of Bishop of Ravenna, and after the death of the reigning 
pope, nominated her lover to this first dignity of the 
church. Upon the death of Theodora, Marofia, the wife 
of Grey, Duke of Tuscany, having caused her husband, 
whom she hated, to be assassinated, had Pope John 
arrested and strangled in prison. " Thus," says a his- 
torian, " as John had been raised to the papal throne by 



36 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

one vile woman, lie was dethroned by another." This 
Marofia had the address and presumption to nominate as 
pope a natural son, whom she had by Sergius III., and 
who was called John XI. He was dethroned by Alberic, 
another natural son of Marofia. 
* 



LOYE IN A DUNGEON. 

Joseph II., Emperor of Germany, visiting the hospi- 
tal of Vienna, in an obscure corner perceived a small 
door ; he desired it to be opened, and after having 
descended into a sort of dungeon, found there a melan- 
choly victim of love. This was a person still young and 
of good mien ; she was covered with rags, and lay ex- 
tended upon a little dirty straw, a spectacle which moved 
the emperor, and excited his curiosity. " I am," said this 
person, " a woman of family ; I was twenty years of 

age when I had the misfortune to please the Baron B . 

He sought only to satisfy a violent passion, which I only 
consented to by marriage ; he espoused me, and I have 
borne him three sons ; since then he has left me, and I 
have learned that he has fled to Moravia, where he has 
entered into a new marriage. I made no complaints, as 
that must have ruined him. His new wife, uneasy and 
distrustful, has prevailed upon him to sacrifice me ; it is 
several years since I was forced away, in the middle of 
the night, and conducted to this place, after having been 
deprived of my children. If your maj esty deigns to break 
my chains, I have three sons ; the shame of my husband 
wall reflect upon them if it is publicly known ; I conjure 
you to spare the guilty for their sakes. If to this you 



A KINGDOM LOST BY LOYE. 37 

will add a further bounty, deign to insure me an asylum 
in a monastery, and to bless me with the sight of my 
children, that I may once more press them to the bosom 
which has fostered them." The emperor granted the 
request of this unfortunate woman, supplied her necessi- 
ties, and caused her children to be found. The second 
wife of the baron was condemned to perpetual imprison- 
ment ; the husband was punished with exile and the 
deprivation of all his effects, which devolved to his 
children. This was in 1776. 



A KINGDOM LOST BY LOYE. 

When Henry VIII., King of England, instigated by 
Pope Leon X., and in concert with the Emperor Maxi- 
milian, made an invasion into France, James IV., king of 
Scotland, although brother-in-law to Henry, thought 
proper to declare against him. To divert the attention 
of the English in favor of the French monarch (his ally), 
he made a descent upon England with an army of fifty 
thousand men. A part of Northumberland was ravaged 
by these troops, and James himself seized upon several 
castles. In the midst of these successes, this prince 
reposed voluptuously in the arnis of love, giving himself 
up to a passion which cost him his life. Lady Forres, a 
woman of great beauty, was made prisoner in her castle, 
and presented to James, who was so captivated by her 
charms, that in paying his devotion to her he lost that 
time he ought to have employed in pushing his conquests 
in the absence of the enemy. His troops, ill disciplined, 
after having consumed their provisions, disbanded, with- 



38 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

out attending to the orders of their king. The Earl of 
Surry, availing himself of this circumstance, collected an 
army and approached the Scots. Battle became inevita- 
ble ; the Earl of Surry bore off the victory, and James 
lost his life. This engagement was called the battle of 
Houden. It was in 1513. 



THE STORY OF ABAILLARD AND HELOISA. 

Nature had been to extremes, lavish of her favors on 
Abaillard, who was born in the borough of Palais in 
Brittany, three leagues from Mantes. To a manly, 
though agreeable figure, he united a sharp and penetrat- 
ing genius. He was the disciple of Rosselin, and of 
William de Champeaux, and far excelled his masters. 
His reputation extended so far, that it drew the atten- 
tion of St. Bernard, who, they say, became jealous of it, 
and made him undergo a great many humiliations, by 
getting some of his writings condemned. But these 
sorrows, which he bore as a philosopher, were nothing, 
if we compare them with those that Love occasioned 
him. At the time when he had a numerous school at 
Paris, he became acquainted with Heloisa, a niece of a 
canon of that metropolis, whose name was Fulbert. 
She was in possession of every charm — youth, beauty, a 
lively and delicate mind, and especially one of the most 
tender souls. She pleased Abaillard, who made the same 
impression upon her ; and that they might have a better 
opportunity of seeing one another without constraint, 
the doctor proposed to Fulbert to teach his niece gratis. 
The uncle was avaricious, and he accepted the proposal. 



THE STORY OF ABAILLARD AND HELOISA. 39 

It was in giving his lessons to the bewitching Heloisa, 
and very likely receiving some from her lips like- 
wise, that, in the midst of pleasures, Abaillard met the 
source of those misfortunes which afterwards embittered 
so much the remainder of his days. It was not long 
before Heloisa perceived she had too tenderly loved 
Abaillard, and however careful she had been to hide it, 
her uncle soon found out the same also. Abaillard with- 
drew, and Heloisa went io Brittany, where at a sister's of 
hers she was delivered of the fruit of her love. Abaillard 
was very much interested in having that story buried in 
jfce most profound secrecy, for by its being discovered, he 
risked nothing less than to lose his place, his credit and 
his reputation. Fulbert knew that very well, and took 
advantage of the circumstance to compel him to marry 
his niece. The doctor had no objection to it, for he loved 
Heloisa, and, besides, he was very sensible of the obliga- 
tion he was under to repair her honor ; but he insisted 
upon his marriage not being published, on account of the 
prejudice then so strongly prevailing, that a married man 
could not teach youth, nor keep a school ; a prejudice 
still existing in our days, and ruling the university of 
Paris, where the several professors of that body of learn- 
ing are under necessity of being bachelors in order to 
hold their chairs. What must appear very strange, in 
this affair, is that the greatest opposition to that union, 
came from Heloisa herself. She made use of all her wit 
to dissuade Abaillard from it, and the reasons she gave 
for it, and which we read in her letters, prove the high 
and refined delicacy of her love. But the uncle was in- 
flexible ; he insisted upon the marriage taking place, and 
promised that he would keep the secret. There is room 
to think that the canon was in love with his niece, for 



40 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

otherwise it would be difficult to explain how he came 
to determine upon a piece of vengeance so cruel, and so 
deliberately considered, as that which he exercised on 
Abaillard. He did not keep his word, and soon no 
one was ignorant of the adventure of the doctor. 
Heloisa, by the advice of her husband, retired to 
the nunnery of Argenteuil. Little did she expect 
that this retirement was going to occasion the most 
barbarous of treatment, to be. exercised against that 
dear husband. Abaillard could remain no longer in 
Paris ; he retired among the monks of St. Denis, 
whence he successively went into other houses of that 
order. While Abaillard thus dragged about from con- 
vent to convent his sad and melancholy being, strove 
in vain against the credit and miracles of St. Bernard, 
the disconsolate Heloisa, more unfortunate still, saw 
herself obliged to quit the convent of Argenteuil, and 
always directed by her husband, who had, however, 
but the name of husband, she fixed herself in an 
oratory, of the name of Paraclet, which had been 
erected by her dear Abaillard, near Nogent-sur-Seine, 
and there became the first abbess of a monastery of 
girls, who came to settle in that retreat. She main- 
tained with true dignity and decorum the place she occu- 
pied ; her behavior inspired piety, but her heart burnt 
with the most ardent love. In vain Abaillard, in his let- 
ters, endeavored to make her forget him ; Heloisa had 
him incessantly present in her mind, and while her mouth 
vowed to God to renounce her passion, her heart belied 
her. She buried her dear Abaillard in the Paraclet, and 
though she survived him twenty years, her passion ended 
only with her life. There is a legend that when the 
tomb of Abaillard was opened, to place in it the body of 



THE STRANGE STORY OF ABASSA. 41 

Heloisa, Abaillard stretched his arms towards her, to 
receive her, and clasped them very closely again over 
her, to embrace her. — There is a place at Moulinjoly 
whence you can discover the Monastery of Argenteuil, 
and where you read on a stone, the following lines : 

Ces toits eleves dans les airs, 

Couvrent l'asyle ou vecut Heloise ; 

Coeurs tendres, soupirffi & retenez ces vers : 

Elle honora l'aniour — 

L'amour Fimmortalise. 

The meaning of which, runs thus, 

Those roofs yonder you see surging above 

Shade the retreat where dwelt Heloisa. 

Sigh, tender hearts, and remember these lines, 

She, when living, was an honor to love, 

And, now she's dead, love makes her immortal. 

Abaillard died in 1143. 



THE STKANGE STOKY OF ABASSA. 

Abassa was sister to Aaron, or Haroun Raschid, the 
fifth calif of the race of Abassides. This princess, 
having had an opportunity to see Giaffar, a favorite of 
the prince, became in love with him. We may easily 
conceive how happy the favorite was, when he found he 
pleased his master's sister. The great point was then 
to have that mutual passion approved by the calif, and 
to obtain his consent to their union. Abassa, more 
interested than any one to succeed in the project — be- 



42 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

cause the lot of a Turkish princess, always shut up, and 
deprived of the liberty of seeing a man, is not a very 
agreeable one — succeeded, through her steady prayers 
and solicitations, in softening her brother's rigidity into a 
consent to her wishes. But, in consenting to unite the 
two lovers, the calif enjoined upon them a very hard 
condition, which was that they should never occupy 
the same apartment. This was nearly the same as for- 
bidding them to marry. The princess thought her 
brother could not resist her prayers. It was a great 
error. Aaron was inflexible. In this sad situation, 
Abassa acted the second Eve. Hence sprung a boy, 
who was secretly sent to Mecca to be brought up. 
Unluckily the secret was badly kept, and the calif, 
being informed of it, disgraced his favorite (whom he 
caused to be put to death), and expelled his sister, the 
unfortunate Abassa, from the palace. She was after- 
wards reduced to the greatest distress and misery. 



THE CHARMING YOTA. 

Abenchamot, an Arabian captain, commanded in a 
borough of Mauritania, and often came to blows with 
the Portuguese. One of their chiefs, named Nuguo 
Fernand D'Atoya, plundered Abenchamot's borough, 
and took prisoner the woman he loved most tenderly. 
The Moor, inflamed with the desire of revenging him- 
self and of recovering his dear wife, did not rest long 
before he set about pursuing his enemies, and harassing 
them so far as even to carry his lance into their squad- 
rons. He consoled his wife, and promised to relieve 



THE CHARMING YOTA. 43 

her. She begged of the soldiers who guarded her, 
permission to speak to her husband. 

" Cavaliero, who thinkest thyself so brave," said she 
to him, "remember what thou promised me so many 
times, when thou toldst me thy tender tale of love ; deli- 
ver me, or die for my sake and I will follow thy fate ; but 
there is a great difference between promising and keep- 
ing one's word !" At these words, Abenchamot, shaking 
a lance he held, " Yota," said he, " I never promised 
anything but what I performed, and I shall never alter. 
The day is long, still victory is in the hands of the 
Almighty, and strength is in this arm." The fair Moor, 
desperate at hearing this, took some dust, which she 
threw in the air, and replied to him, " All that thou 
sayest is nothing but wind ; there is no longer a Yota 
for thee." Then Abenchamot, taking off one of his 
shoes, threw it at her as a pledge, and returned towards 
his people, to incite and encourage them to fight. He 
kindled in their hearts the same ardor which blazed in 
his, and which had just been excited by the reproaches 
of his dear Yota. They rushed with impetuosity upon the 
rear of the Portuguese, and obliged them to turn back 
their faces to them. At that very moment, Nuguo, over- 
powered by the heat of the weather, had just untied his 
neck-piece. Abenchamot, who took notice of it, seized 
that opportunity, and lanced at his throat a large and 
strong javelin, which killed him on the spot. The Portu- 
guese immediately took up the body of their general, and 
while they disputed among themselves who should suc- 
ceed him, the Moorish captain, taking advantage of their 
division, forced their squadrons, delivered his dear Yota, 
killed the bravest of his enemies, and took several of them 
prisoners. Sometime after this event, the brave Aben- 



44 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

chamot was killed by the Moors themselves ; his body 
was carried to Yota, who starved herself to death, 
having from that moment refused to take any sort of 
food till she died; she was deposited with him in the 
same grave. 



THE L07E OF ACHOMATH. 

Stephens, the son of Shersek, sovereign of Montivera, 
in Sclavonia, had been for a long time passionately in 
love with the daughter of the despot of Servia. Every- 
thing pleased him in the princess, her age, her birth, and 
especially her graces, which rendered her one of the 
most beautiful women of her time. He was fortunate 
enough to be informed that the lady had no objection to 
his person, and thereupon he obtained the consent of her 
friends. The ceremony of being betrothed to each other 
had already been performed, and there was, therefore, 
but one step to take in order to obtain the possession 
of such a treasure of graces and beauty ; but that happi- 
ness vanished in an instant. Cherseck, in seeing the 
young princess, had not been able to resist falling in love 
with her, and he did not scruple to get her away from 
his son, and marry her. The young prince, even in his 
despair, respected too much the author of his days to 
attempt anything rash against him, but he took refuge 
among the Turks, embraced the rites of their religion, 
abandoned the name of Stephens, and assumed that of 
Achomath. This act of despair, prompted by love, 
proved afterwards to be of great service to the Christ- 
ians in many respects ; for it was through the credit of 



THE LOVE OP AGAMEMNON. 45 

Achomath that, after Bajazet had taken Modon in Morea, 
several noble Venetians escaped being put to death. 
Achomath delivered many other prisoners with his purse, 
as well as through his credit. He was again the cause 
of Bajazet making peace with the Venetians. Finally, 
it was by his recommendation that Lascaris, who had 
been sent by Laurent, of Medicis, obtained a free access 
to all the libraries of Greece, to find out all the good 
books which had remained there, but which had been 
buried in oblivion ever since the Eastern Empire had 
been under the yoke of the Infidels. 



THE LOVE OF AGAMEMNON. 

We all know how great was the division between 
Agamemnon and Achilles at the siege of Troy, on 
account of their mistresses. The first was king of 
Micena, and had been chosen the chief of those Greeks 
who went to plunder and lay waste the country of the 
Trojans at the instance of a woman. The second was a 
hero whom victory always accompanied. Agamemnon, 
proud of his rank, fell in love with a girl whose name 
was Bryseis, whom Achilles loved, and without any 
regard for a prince, whose bravery ought to have been 
of such value, he had the girl carried off from Achilles. 
From that instant Achilles refused to come out from his 
tent and to fight. The effects of which refusal were soon 
strikingly evident, by the advantages the Trojans ob- 
tained. The desire alone of avenging the death of 
Patrocles was capable of inducing Achilles to take up 



46 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

his arms again ; it was at this time he killed Hector, son 
of Priam, king of the Trojans. Achilles himself was 
the victim of love, for it is said that Paris killed him in a 
temple, where he had repaired to see Polixena, daughter 
of Priam, whom he loved. But if love favored Aga- 
memnon before Troy, he prepared for him a fatal lot at 
home. This prince had married Clytemnestra, the 
daughter of Leda and Tyndarus. 

This princess, in the absence of her husband, gave too 
favorable and attentive an ear to the seducing speeches 
of Egistus. Insensibly her heart gave way to his 
insinuating allurements, and insensibly her passion grew 
to such a pitch of violence, that she hesitated no longer 
to sacrifice not only the honor, but even the life of 
Agamemnon, for at his return from the Trojan war, she 
caused him to be assassinated by her lover. No one is 
ignorant that a vengeance still more cruel was taken 
afterwards, of the tragical death of that prince, for 
Orestus, his son, incited by his sister Electra, killed 
Egistus, and even his mother Clytemnestra. Among 
the many princes who attended at that celebrated siege, 
was Ajax, the son of Oileus, king of the Locrians. 
After the town was taken, this young prince stole away 
from the temple of Minerva, Cassandra, daughter of 
Priam, and who was a priestess, and had her conducted 
to his tent. It was not long before Agamemnon was 
informed of the event, and at the same time, he was 
assured that this woman was a perfect beauty. The rank 
he held in the army induced him to think that Ajax 
would willingly resign Cassandra to him ; but love has 
no regard for rank, and Ajax, mightily enchanted with 
his mistress, determined to keep her. Under these cir- 
cumstances, Agamemnon had recourse to the pretence of 



3T0EY OF THE GENTLE AGNES. 4:1 

religion. He accused Ajax of being guilty of a horrid 
sacrilege, by corrupting a woman devoted to Minerva ; 
he persuaded the Greeks that such a crime would draw 
upon them the wrath of the gods, if it were not expiated 
by the death of the guilty. Ajax, rightly frightened on 
account of the power of his accuser, thought the safest 
way was to set off. Unluckily, the barge into which he 
threw himself was wrecked, and the prince was buried 
in the waters. 



STORY OF THE GENTLE AGNES. 

Agnes Soeeelle, or Sorrel, who, to use the expres- 
sion of an ancient writer, " among the handsomest was 
the most handsome," was born lady of the manor of 
Fromenteaux, a village in the shire of Tours. Charles 
VII., king of France, having heard mention of her 
beauty, was desirous to see her, and was so much struck 
with her charms that he instantly became distractedly 
in love with her. Two years, however, elapsed between 
the first interview he had with her at her own castle of 
Fromenteaux and the second. Isabella of Lorraine, 
wife to Rene of Anjou, coming to implore the assist- 
ance of Charles VII. to get her husband out of the 
hands of the Duke of Burgundy, brought the fair Agnes 
with her. The flames of love were kindled anew in 
the king's heart, and it is said that the care of pleasing 
her occupied his mind so strongly, that he actually for- 
got that the English were in possession of the greatest 
part of his kingdom. We find it recorded in several 
writers of those times, that this beautiful girl aroused 



48 AKECDOTES OE LOVE. 

the king's courage by threatening to quit him, and 
to go with the king of England, if he did not attend to 
the situation of his affairs, and march against his ene- 
mies ; so that the fear, say they,, of losing his adorable 
mistress was the cause of his driving away the English, 
and of recovering his kingdom. Even the celebrated 
and gallant Fontanelle has also adopted that idea, and it 
is on that occasion he makes the following polite reflec- 
tion : " See," says he, " how much France is indebted to 
love, and how courteous that kingdom is to be with the 
ladies, should it be but out of gratitude !" But a 
modern writer disapproves that opinion, on the ground 
that the king of England, Henry VI., was at that time 
no more than seven years of age, and that it is ridiculous 
to fancy that Agnes could have threatened Charles to 
quit him in order to become the mistress of a child. 
"What is certain is, that all the historians agree, that 
Charles grew torpid in the arms of effeminacy and 
voluptuousness, while his captains alone sought to pre- 
serve him a crown on the point of dropping from his 
head ; and they all agree, likewise, that his mistress con- 
curred not a little in stirring up his courage. " It was 
a lucky thing for that good prince," says one of them, 
" that woman had so much empire over his mind, and that 
those among that sex whom he consulted, happened to 
have that degree of heroical sentiment which could 
strengthen his own in those cruel extremities, and assist 
his tottering resolutions." Marguerite of Anjou, his 
queen, made use of all the influence she had on his 
mind to revive his hopes. The representations of that 
princess were strongly supported by the beautiful Agnes ; 
and " love, more powerful than ambition on the king's 
mind, reanimated that courage which this last sentiment 



STORY OP THE GENTLE AGNES. 49 

was not able of itself to support. No one is ignorant of 
the following lines, which Francis I. made, in seeing a 
portrait of Agnes Sorrel : 

" Gentille Agnes, plus d'honneur tu merite 
La cause etant de France recouvrer, 
Que ce que peut dans un cloitre ouvrer 
Close nonain ou bien devot hcrmite." 

And the meaning of which is as follows : " Gentle Agnes, 
more honors dost thou deserve, having had for an object 
to recover France, than can work out in a cloister a con- 
fined nun, or a religious anchorite." Now, as Francis I. 
lived only half a century after Charles VII., it is an evi- 
dent proof that the general persuasion ever was, that the 
fair Agnes had much contributed to rouse the courage 
of the royal lover ; and we must confess, that if she may 
be reproached with the frailty of having been the mistress 
of a man, she has well redeemed that fault by those 
other virtues, which procured her the esteem of the 
prince whom her beauty had captivated, and which, to 
this very day, has never ceased to secure her the consider- 
ation of the subsequent ages. However, Agnes Sorrel 
had three daughters by Charles VII. Agnes died in 
1449, and was buried in the middle of the collegial 
church of Loches. Her effigy may still be seen there in 
white marble, with two angels holding a pillow, on which 
is resting her head, and two lambs at her feet. She had 
made considerable gifts to that church, notwithstanding 
which, the canons, supposing that Louis XI. might pre- 
serve against the fair Agnes the same hatred in his heart 
after her death which he had entertained during her 
life, asked him leave to take away that tomb from the 
choir of their church. But they were answered that they 

3 



50 ANECDOTES OF LOVE 

might have his consent, if they would return the great 
wealth they had received from her. Speaking of the 
hatred Louis XI. entertained against that beautiful girl, 
a certain historian says, that Agnes, who did not like 
that prince, while he was a Dauphin, was incessantly 
exciting Charles VII. against him, which gave birth to a 
misunderstanding between the king and queen. The 
dauphin, who was not naturally patient, flew once into 
such a passion as to give Agnes a slap on the face, which 
occasioned his retiring into Dauphiny, whence he never 
returned till after the death of his father? It is also a 
general opinion that this prince, although distant from 
court, found means to make Agnes feel the weight of his 
vengeance, and that he had her poisoned at the time she 
came to meet the king at Jumieges to inform him of 
some conspiracy. The death of that charming girl 
caused the greatest grief to the king. The place of 
lady favorite was, however, filled by a cousin of Agnes 
Sorrel, Lady Villequier, whose maiden name was Antoi- 
nette de Maiguelais, and who married in 1450 the Baron 
de Villequier, who was first gentleman of the king's 
chamber, and died in 1454. 



LOVE A GREAT TEACHEE. 

Akiba, a celebrated Rabbi, whose name did not shine 
till after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, owed 
his learning to love only. He was a herdsman to a rich 
inhabitant of Jerusalem ; and in that situation he dared 
to lift his eyes and his heart as high as the daughter of 
his master, and declared to her his passion. His boldness 
met with all the success he could wish for. His mistress, 



ALEGRE THE MARQUIS. 51 

in listening to his desires, promised to take him as a hus- 
band, if he would study and become a great scholar. 
Love is a great teacher. Akiba, stimulated by the hope 
of obtaining possession of the darling object of his wishes, 
soon became one of the greatest doctors in Jerusalem. 
His reputation grew so extensively, that the number of his 
pupils was computed at twenty-four thousand. Such a 
success was crowned by his marriage with his master's 
daughter, but his happiness was but short. Having, 
unfortunately for him, been brought over to join the fac- 
tion of the impostor Baroquebas, Akiba was taken, and 
put to the most dreadful and excruciating tortures ; he 
had his body torn to pieces with iron combs. 



ALEGRE THE MARQUIS. 

Yves, Marquis of Alegre-Mailleau, was one of the vic- 
tims of love. He made such an impression on the heart 
of Francisca Babou, of la Bourdaisiere, wife to Anthony 
d'Estrees, Marquis of Cceuvres, that this lady forgetting 
her name, her duty, and her reputation, left her husband, 
and went to live openly at Issoire, with the Marquis 
d'Alegre, who was governor of that palace. War, which 
pays no regard to the sweets of love, came and broke in a 
very abrupt and fatal manner upon so intimate an union. 
Alegre was a Protestant ; he was besieged in Issoire by 
the brother of Henry III. He defended himself with 
much courage and bravery ; but he was obliged to yield, 
and what is worse, the town was taken by storm. Lady 
d'Estrees was killed by the soldiers, who put to death 
everybody they met without any distinction, and who, 



52 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

perhaps, had besides some secret orders to commit this 
piece of cruelty against a woman whose beauty had, in 
any other circumstance, sufficient powers to put a stop 
to their fury. The Marquis d'Alegre, who was wounded, 
had time enough to escape the general slaughter, and to 
take refuge in the castle of his name. This retreat was 
not able to protect him against the vengeance of a man 
he had so publicly disgraced ; the Marquis de Coeuvres 
had him assassinated there. That very Lady d'Estrees 
was the mother of the beautiful Gabriella d'Estrees, of 
whose amours with Henry IV. all the world is well 
informed, and who, if we are to believe the chronicle of 
the time, was not over faithful to that good king. It 
was on this account that the following sarcastic book- 
title was placed one day in Lady Montpensier's library, 
viz. : "Les formidables regrets des amoureux, par Madame 
d'Estrees, revus et augmentes par le Sr. d'Alegre ;" the 
meaning of which is this : " The formidable lamentations 
of the lovers, by Lady d'Estrees, revised and enlarged 
by the Sieur d'Alegre." 



LOVE OF A GREAT GENERAL. 

Banier, a Swedish general, a worthy disciple of the 
great Gustavus, and who was the glorious supporter of 
his master's fame, suffered himself to be subdued by love, 
at an age when that passion should subside, and under 
circumstances where grief should have had the whole 
possession of his heart. He had just lost his lady, to 
whom he was tenderly attached. As he accompanied 
the remains of so dear a person to the grave, at Erford, 



THE FAIR ANNA OF CAUMONT. 58 

he was seized with a violent passion for a young princess 
of Bade, which chance put in his way. From that very 
moment, war, glory, country, everything, in fact, which, 
had hitherto been so dear to rim, became totally indif- 
ferent. He had no thought but of his mistress, and 
exposed himself most rashly to visit her in Arolt's a Dtle. 
H3 did nothing but to keep open table, that he might 
have the p! of drinking the health of the fai^ one 

who had enchanted him. On the day": received the 
Marquis of Bade, he gave a magnificen mie: iinment, 
at which he had two hundred great guns fired, the noise 
of which was heard as far r where the inhabi- 

tants were so fuEy persuaded that there was a battle, 
that the people and the clergy all repaired to church, 
and fell on their knees to pray. The marriage took 
place. Banier, wholly engrossed t, °± 1 his l.=~ >ife, left 
with his lieutenant c md c duct of the military 

operations. He lr - -: oat a few months after that mar- 
riage which he hau so arc! :■• try wished for. 



THE PAIR ANNA OF CAUMONT. 

Gozsrey of Caumont marriec 1 ' -gerite of Lustruc, 
widow of the marshal of St. Andrew. There came 
from that marriage an only daughter, whose beauty and 
riches stimulated the ambition of several young noble- 
men. James of Escars, lord of the manor of la Vau* 
guy on, tutor to the young ady, being more studious o"f 
his own interests than of the happiness of his young 
pupil, obliged her to marry Charles of Escars, his son, 
known by the name of Clarency. That marriage threw 



54 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

into the greatest despair many an aspirant, one of whom 
wns Charles of Biron, who afterwards did so many 
important services to the state. This young man was 
passionately in love with Miss Caumont ; his hope had 
been that the reputation of Armand Biron, his father, 
might procure him the preference over his rivals. When 
he had lost all hope, he thought of the means of taking 
vengeance on his happy rival, and it was not long before 
he found the opportunity he wished for. Having had a 
slight altercation with him, he sent him a challenge to 
meet him with two more of his friends. The place 
appointed for the duel was behind the suburb St. Mar- 
cel ; Clarency took for his seconds Charles Etissac, the 
only son and heir of the great family of that name, along 
with one Montpesat. Biron was cunning enough to 
place himself and his seconds in such a manner, that the 
snow, which fell abundantly, should fall into his adver- 
saries' eyes, which was the cause of their being all three 
killed. Through this cruel accident, Anna of Caumont 
became a widow, and was again under the authority of 
James of Escars, her tutor. The viscount of Turenne, 
one of the king of Navarre's chief partisans, desired very 
much this young and rich widow. But the Duke of 
Mayenne was skillful enough to have her carried off, in 
order to marry her to his son. The tutor complained 
loudly of it, and King Henry III. ordered the widow 
to be set again at liberty. The Duke of Mayenne deliv- 
ered her up into the mother-queen's hands, in hopes that 
this princess would trust her to the Duchess of Nemours, 
his mother. But in spite of all these precautions, the 
marriage did not take place ; and Anna of Caumont 
married Francis of Orleans-Langueville, Earl St. Paul. 



STORY OF BUSAS. 55 



STORY OE BUSAS. 



It was during the war of the Avares against the Ro- 
mans, that the barbarians, by a singular event, became 
masters of Asperia, a considerable fortress. A soldier, 
named Busas, who was in the garrison, and whose valor 
had distinguished him on several occasions, owing to his 
own imprudence in following the enemy without the fort 
had the misfortune to be taken prisoner. As he assured 
them of a large ransom, if they would spare his life, they 
conducted him before the walls of Asperia, where they 
told the inhabitants that, if they did not immediately 
redeem Busas, he would be put to death. Busas himself, 
tried to excite the compassion of his countrymen; he 
recalled to their remembrance the services he had 
done them; showed them the scars he retained upon 
his body — scars which he had received in defending 
their liberties. Unfortunately, Busas had a pretty wife, 
who had pleased one of the principal citizens of Asperia, 
with whom she had carried on a dishonorable acquaint- 
ance. This man, thinking he could more easily gain 
his wishes during the absence of Busas, and persuaded 
that the enemies would put him to death, prevailed 
upon the inhabitants to positively refuse to pay the ran- 
som of one of their bravest defenders. They were, 
however, the victims of their own ingratitude. Busas, 
irritated by the slight they put upon him, promised the 
Avares to give them possession of Asperia ; and he kept 
his word, by teaching them to erect machines for taking 
cities, and by instructing them in the manner of using 
them, which proved very fatal to the Romans, under the 
empire of Maurice. 



56 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 



THE COUNTESS DE CH ATE AUB RIANT. 

The Countess de Chat eaub riant was the daughter of 
Phoebus de Grailly, of the house of Foix, and sister of 
the Mareehal de Lautrec and de Foix. All who men- 
tion her, agree that she was of singular "beauty. One 
historian pretends " that the greatest misfortune of a 
man, who should become blind, would be having seen her, 
and afterwards to be deprived of that happiness." This 
uncommon beauty was celebrated from the age of 
twelve. It was at that period that the Count de Cha- 
teaubriant, of the house of Laval, sought her hi marriage. 
She being without portion, his proposition was readily 
accepted ; and this young beauty was delivered into 
the arms of a man she did not love. And it must be 
confessed that his conduct was not such as to gain the 
heart of his wife. Jealous to excess, he confined her 
in a castle, where he permitted her to see no one but 
himself — a certain way to inspire her with the desire of 
seeing others. Chance at length wrested from this 
jealous man the treasure he guarded with so much care. 
He was obliged to repair to the court of Francis I. 
to defend a law-suit of the greatest consequence, upon 
which his whole fortune depended, and the king asked 
the Count de Chateaubriant why he had not brought his 
wife with him, adding she was young and handsome, and 
with these qualities w< to be an ornament to his 

court. The count replied, that his wife hated the great 
world, and only delighted in solitude. But the king 
pressed him so often, that he at length promised that he 
would write to his wife to come to him. The count well 
knew that this letter would not produce the expected eifect, 



THE COUNTESS DE CHATEATTBKIANT. 57 

as he had agreed with the countess that she should not 
leave the castle without a bracelet of hair, which she had 
presented to him, and this bracelet did not accompany 
the letter ; at least he believed so. But M. de Lautrec, 
brother of the countess, entertained a passion for one 
of her ladies, and greatly desired that his sister should 
come to court, that he might see his mistress ; the 
young lady, who equally desired it, informed by him 
of all that had passed, sent him a bracelet worked with 
her mistress's hair, and exactly resembling that which 
she had given to her husband. The bracelet being sent 
to the countess, with a letter from the count, she in- 
stantly began her journey with her attendants. On her 
arrival, she easily proved to her jealous husband that she 
had been deceived. 

But the Count de Chateaubriant grew frantic ; and, 
regarding himself as already dishonored, he abandoned 
his wife and his law-suit, and retired to his castle in 
Brittany. A young and beautiful woman, yet inexpe- 
rienced, and admired by a king as amiable and gallant 
as Francis I., was in great danger of forgetting herself. 
This was the case in which we find the Countess de Cha- 
teaubriant. Her beauty made the most lively impression 
upon the heart of the king, and it was not long before 
he acquainted her with it. The countess was proud of her 
virtue, and relied too much upon it. The resistance she 
at first opposed, made the king fear that his cause was 
hopeless. But the match was unequal. The little god 
conquered, and the Count de Chateaubriant, in his re- 
tirement, was soon informed that his wife had beeome 
the mistress of the king, and that she was the distribu- 
tress of favors and rewards. The brothers of the 
countess thought they ought to profit by this circum- 

3* 



58 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

stance; but the incensed husband refused all their en- 
treaties, and inwardly swore that he would in a signal 
manner avenge his honor. Francis I., being called to 
Italy, left the countess at court. The battle of Pavia, 
where he was made prisoner, retarded his return. Dur- 
ing his absence, the Duchess d' Angouleme, mother to 
the king, inflicted so many mortifications upon the 
countess, that she preferred to return to her husband. 
In vain this faulty but charming woman wrote a letter, 
in the most submissive terms, to her husband. He was 
inflexible ; and if he did not take her life upon the spot, 
it was because he had some remains of affection, which, 
in spite of her conduct, he still felt for her. "When the 
king had regained his liberty, the Count de Chateau- 
briant, fearing that he would exert his authority to take 
his wife from him, entered the apartment of the countess, 
accompanied by several masked ruffians, and told her 
that she must die. She made little resistance; they 
opened her veins, and her barbarous husband had the 
cruelty to stay till she breathed her last sigh. After this 
severe vengeance, he escaped to England, and never 
returned to France, till after having given the house 
that bore his name to the High Constable de Montmo- 
rency, to shelter himself from the pursuit of the parents 
of his wife. 



THE VIRTUOUS CHIOMARE. 

After the defeat of Antiochus, King of Persia, by 
Scipio Asiaticus, the Romans resolved to punish the 
Gaulish Greeks, who had given succors to Antiochus, 
and who besides, made frightful ravages in Asia. The 



THE VIKTUOUS CHIOMARE. 59 

consul, Manluis, successor to Scipio, marched his army 
against this people, a party of whom they found had 
taken refuge on Mount Olympus. The bravery and per- 
severance of the Romans vanquished the Gauls, the 
greater part of whom were made prisoners. Of their 
number was Chiomare, the wife of Ortiagon, King of the 
Tolistoboges, a princess of exquisite beauty ; whom the 
consul, in the heat of the carnage, had consigned to a 
centurion. It was difficult to behold Chiomare and not 
be captivated by her charms. Her situation made the 
Roman believe that he might dare everything. Morti- 
fied at meeting an obstinate resistance, he had recourse 
to violence to satisfy his brutality. Interest, at length, 
however, took the place of love, and he proposed, for a 
certain sum, to restore the beautiful captive to her lib- 
erty. Ortiagon, to whom this fact was communicated, 
delayed not to send the ransom for his wife. It was 
night when the centurion went to receive it, and to 
deliver his captive into the hands of her parents. Chi- 
omare, anxious for an opportunity to revenge the loss of 
her honor, told her parents in the language of her coun- 
try, to hill the Roman, which they instantly did, and 
Chiomare carried to her husband the bloody head of the 
centurion. 

On seeing this spectacle, Ortiagon demanded whether 
she had preserved her conjugal fidelity. " I call the 
gods to witness (replied the virtuous queen) that if my 
person has suffered the indignities of servitude, I am 
revenged ; here is the head of the infamous ravisher of 
my honor and of yours." The historian adds that the 
king was enchanted with the virtue and courage of his 
queen, and that he loved and esteemed her more than 
ever. 



60 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 



THE LOYE OF A POET. 

Durand, the ancient French poet, who lived about 
the year 1300, became enamored of a lady of the house 
of the Counts de Balbi. Following the custom of these 
times, Durand drew the horoscope of his mistress. They 
say it showed some wonderful tokens of her death, which 
nevertheless was not to happen till at the end of a very 
long life. Some time after the lady was attacked with a 
disorder, so violent that she was thought dead, and they 
were preparing for her interment, when Durand received 
the melancholy intelligence. Whether it was that he for- 
got the horoscope of his mistress, or that he placed little 
dependence on all such predictions, is not certain, but he 
abandoned himself to a grief which was so violent that he 
died. In the meantime his mistress showed signs of 
life, as they were going to put her into the ground. She 
was brought back to her house, and when her health was 
perfectly established, they no longer concealed from her 
the death of Durand, and the cause of it. Touched with 
a passion so lively, and which had terminated so fatally, 
she took the veil, and died a nun at the age of sixty. 



CARDINAL DE RICHELIEU AND MARION DE LORMES. 

The Cardinal de Richelieu first saw Marion de Lormes 
without being seen himself, and found her a thousand 
times more beautiful than he imagined. He wished to 
know whether Saint Mars was beloved, and commis* 



LOVE BETWEEN ARMIES. 61 

sioned Boisrobert to ascertain it. This abbe soon gave 
his Eminence the information he wished for, and informed 
him that in the attachment of Marion de Lormes for the 
favorite of the king, vanity had a greater part than 
love, and that all the tenderness of this girl rested with 
Desbarreau, counsellor of the parliament, a young mar 
of good figure, of a lively wit, and pleasant conversation, 
bat withal debauched and impious. The cardinal made 
a proposal to Desbarreau by Boisrobert, that if he would 
give up Marion de Lormes, and engage her to comply 
with his wishes, he would acknowledge the sacrifice by 
doing everything he could wish towards the advancement 
of his fortune. Boisrobert acquitted himself of his com- 
mission with great address ; but Desbarreau replied to 
this overture, only i pleasantry, feigning always to 
believe the cardinal incapable of such a weakness, This 
minister was so irritated that he perse r ited Desbarreau 
while he lived, and obliged him to give up his post, and 
to leave the kbgdom. 



LOVE BETWEEN ARMIES. 

Othalkic, Duke of Bohemia, had j-i: dded Moravia 
to his dukedom, after having taken it away from Misicon, 
the king of Poland, when love was very near making him 
lose his estates. This prince, having obeyed the incli- 
nation of his heart, had married Domaroda, the daughter 
of a husbandman. From that marriage, he had a son 
named Brztislas. This young prince, having heard of 
the extreme beauty of one Judith, or Jutha, the daughter 
of Count Albert Othon, surnaraed the sincere, had con- 






62 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

ceived a violent passion for her. But the low extraction 
of Domaroda, his mother, made him apprehensive of 
receiving a refusal from Othon ; his passion however 
blinded him, and he resolved to get by force what he 
feared he could not obtam by good will. 

Judith was educated in a convent at Ratisbon. 
Brztislas, with thirty young Bohemians in his company, 
repaired to that town. By dint of presents, he obtained 
at last the permission to speak with Judith. He had 
the good luck to please her, and inspire her with the de- 
sire of becoming his wife. Enchanted with this success, 
Brztislas hastened to take advantage of the circum- 
stance ; and " having spied the moment when the young 
boarders went to the evening prayers, he laid hold of 
Judith, who made no great resistance, and set off with 
all speed, escorted by the thirty young noblemen, his 
friends. K~o sooner had they arrived at Prague, than 
the bishop Ison performed the ceremony of the nuptials, 
to which the princess assented. So far Brztislas could 
not but applaud himself for his happy success. But it 
was not long before he was made sensible that his pas- 
sion had blinded him, and prevented his foreseeing the 
dangers which were the necessary and unavoidable con- 
sequence of his bold undertaking. Othon, the father of 
Judith, furious at the loss of his daughter, complained 
most bitterly of it to the Emperor Conrad II. who 
promised even upon oath to expel from Bohemia, 
Othalric and his son, and to make it the seat of the em- 
pire. The two armies soon took the field. They were 
already in presence of each other. A battle was about 
to decide the fate of the Duke of Bohemia, when Judith, 
who was the cause of that war, advanced between the 
two armies, and employed all the eloquence which her 



THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY. 63 

attachment for her husband, inspired, to exhort them to 
peace. " The contending princes could not resist either 
her charms or the eloquence of her reasonings. They 
put down their arms. Brztislas repaired to the tent of 
the emperor, who received him with great marks of joy 
and friendship, and promised him to forget all that was 
past. In the midst of the merriment, occasioned by so 
unexpected an event, Conrad remembered an oath he 
had made of fixing the seat of the empire in the heart of 
Bohemia, and this remembrance caused him the greatest 
trouble. Judith, this incomparable woman, found again 
the means of easing the scruples of the emperor on that 
account. She conducted him to Prague with all his 
court, received him there with the greatest pomp and 
magnificence ; thence she took him to Buntzlau which is 
the centre of Bohemia, made him ascend the throne 
which had been prepared for him, and then Conrad gave 
to Brztislas the investiture of the dukedom of Bohemia, 
with a flag, on which was painted a black eagle, which 
many imagine to have been the old coat-of-arms of that 
dukedom." 



THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY. 

It is known that the Order of the Garter in England, 
owed its origin and establishment to the love of Ed- 
ward III., king of England, for the Countess of Salis- 
bury. Mr. Hume appears inclined to give this origin 
to the order, on account of the manners of that age, 
which were entirely given to gallantry. It is said that 
Edward, at a ball, having picked up the blue garter of 



64 ANECDOTES OE LOVE. 

the Countess of Salisbury, occasioned a laugh among 
his courtiers, and much confused the lady. The king, 
who observed it, exclaimed — "Honni soit qui mal y 
pense !" adding, with an oath, that those who had scoffed 
at this garter should esteem themselves happy to carry 
one like it. In short, having assembled his court, he 
instituted the Order of the Garter, under the auspices 
of Saint George, the protector of England. The 
knights, limited to the number of forty, received from 
the hand of the king, a cloak of violet-colored velvet, 
lined with white damask, upon which there was a red 
cross on a silver medal, and with it a blue enamelled 
garter, to be worn on the left leg, and for device, 
"Honni soit qui mal y pense." Mr. Hume says that 
the knights were only to the number of twenty-four, 
without counting the king. 

Edward's passion for the Countess of Salisbury com- 
menced during the war against David Bruce, king of 
Scotland, whom the English monarch had dethroned. 
Bruce, by the help of succors from France, had reen- 
tered Scotland, and made the most rapid progress there, 
and besieged the castle which contained the beautiful 
countess, when Edward obliged him to retire. The 
king of England, charmed with the gallant resistance 
made by the countess, went to express his acknow- 
ledgments, and was so enchanted with her beauty, 
that he made this declaration: "Never did I behold 
so noble, so gallant, or so beautiful a lady ; the sweet- 
ness, good sense, grace, and high birth, which I find 
united in you, strikes me with such wonder, that I find 
myself vanquished by a passion nothing can remove." 
Her answer was noble, but threw the king into de- 
spair. He made new overtures, but obtained nothing 



OLIVER LE DAIN. 65 

like encouragement. It was on account of this passion 
that Edward gave a grand ball, at which the countess 
was present, and where she dropped her garter, as we 
have before mentioDed. They pretend, however, that 
she was at length weary of being so virtuous. It is 
added that Lord Salisbury, to revenge this injury, dis- 
covered to the king of France the secrets of the Eng- 
lish, and named the French noblemen who had entered 
into secret treaties with Edward ; upon which they say 
several Britons and Normans were executed at Paris. 
To prove the beauty of the Counter of Salisbury, it is 
pretended that John II kin ? of France, returned to 
England, captivated by h : charms, 



OLIVER LE DAIN. 

Oliver _le Dain, or le Daim, had discovered the 
secret of pleasing Louis XL king of France, which was 
not an easy task, and he attained to so high a degree of 
that prince's favor, that he was loaded with honors. It 
is very difficult not to abuse power, and to forbear giv- 
ing ourselves up to our passions, when we are almost 
sure of impunity. Thus it happened to Le Dain. A 
gentleman, arrested by the order of the king, was in 
great danger of his life. His wife, who was tenderly 
attached to him, ardently solicited, his pardon; and 
thought she could not apply to a mc re powerful protec- 
tor than Oliver le Dain. She was young and handsome, 
and her tears and griefs increased and embellished her 
charms. She made an impression upon the favorite, who 
was not ashamed to promise this unhappy woman, the 



i 



66 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

pardon of her husband, on condition that she would 
make him a sacrifice of her honor. The alternative 
was cruel, but honor carried it. This virtuous woman 
had the liberty of seeing her husband, and she imparted 
to him the propositions of Le Dain. The unfortunate 
prisoner conjured his wife to save him, and such was his 
control over her that he succeeded in persuading her 
to accept the terrible terms. And when this unfortunate 
victim of conjugal love sought to dry her tears in the 
arms of her husband, she had the horror to learn that he 
had been put to death. The barbarous Oliver, to have 
longer possession of a woman he loved, ordered her hus- 
band to be put into a sack and thrown into the river. 
The corpse was discovered by some fishermen who ac- 
quainted the wife with her misfortune. She remained 
lisent during the reign of Louis XI. Her tears and 
groans would not have reached his throne. But after 
the death of that prince, and under the reign of Charles 
VIII. she became the accuser of Le Dain, who was 
hanged together with the accomplice in his guilt. 



DUKE DE LONGUEVILLE. 

Henry of Orleans, Duke of Longueville, father of 
the Duke of Longueville, had no reason to complain of 
the favors of love ; but the results were very fatal. It 
is well known that the fair Gabrielle d'Estrees was the 
most beautiful woman of her time. The Duke do 
Longueville, captivated by her charms, endeavored 
to render himself agreeable, and he succeeded. In the 
midst of his good fortune, he perceived that Henry IV. 



DUKE DE LONGUEVILE. 67 

was his rival; and not being willing to hazard the 
favors of his king to preserve those of his mistress, 
he requested her to restore all his letters, promising, 
on his side, to do the same, and always to retain for 
her the most tender friendship. The fair Gabrielle, 
suffered herself to be deluded by the promises of the 
duke, and made a faithful return of all his letters. But 
her lover, not equally honorable, retained some of her 
most passionate epistles. This breach of faith, which 
probably had no other motive than vanity, was the 
cause of his death. After experiencing every kind 
of chagrin on the part of the king, which his mistress 
also aggravated, he travelled abroad, and, making 
his entry at Dourlens, was killed by a discharge of 
artillery, which was made in his honor by the troops. 
This blow is attributed to the vengeance of the fair 
Gabrielle. This same Duke of Longueville was the 
cause of two deaths still more tragic than his own. He 
had been publicly spoken of as the lover of the Countess 
de Chaulnes and the Marchioness d'Humeries, and had 
even sacrificed the latter for Mademoiselle d'Estrees. 
The husbands of these two ladies cruelly avenged their 
honor ; the one was strangled with her own hair by 
masked men, and the other, while walking in a park 
with her husband, was pushed into the water, where she 
was drowned. This was in 1595. 

The Duke de Longueville, son of the one above named, 
played a great part during the minority of Louis XIII., 
but the duchess, his wife, sister of the great Conde, played 
a still greater one at the expense of her husband's 
honor. The letters of gallantry, which she had written 
to the Duke of Beaufort, and which were shown to 
Madame Montbason, were much talked of. The attach- 



68 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

ment of this princess to the Prince Marsillur, and the 
Marshal de Surenne, is well known. The chronicle of 
scandal has even left suspicions rather strong upon a 
connection too tender between the duchess and the 
Prince of Conde, her brother. 



DEATH OF THE INNOCENT. 

Louis, Count Palatine, and Lord of High Bavaria, 
had married the Princess of Brabant, of whom he was 
extremely fond. Chance caused a letter to fall into his 
hands, which that princess had written to a certain noble- 
man. Some equivocal expressions which it contained, 
made Louis believe that his wife was unfaithful. Giving 
himself wholly up to jealousy, and without taking the 
trouble to : certain the facts, he mounted his horse, went 
to Donavenr, where the princess resided, and after hav- 
ing the captain of the castle killed, and also the steward, 
and the women of the chamber, he caused the head of 
his wife to be struck off by the hand of the executioner 
Scarcely was this tragedy finished when Louis was con- 
vinced of the innocence of his wife whom he had put to 
death. The grief which he felt was so great, that his 
hair became white in one night, although he was only 
twenty-seven years of age. To expiate his crime he 
founded the beautiful monastery of Fursenfeld, in Bava- 
ria, and caused the following lines to be engraven on the 

wall: 

Conjugis innocae susi monumenta cruoris, 
Pro culpa pretium, claustra sacrata vides. 

This was in 1246. 



THE STORY OF LUCRETIA. 



THE STORY OF LUCRETIA. 

Tarquin the Proud having ascended the throne of 
the Romans by dint of crimes, sought to support himself 
on it by the fear with which he inspired his subjects. 
His victories did not a little contribute to obliterate the 
memory of his injustice and cruelty. He had attained 
to an advanced age when the people of Rutuli obliged 
him to turn his arms against them ; his first efforts were 
carried against Ardea, the capital of the enemy, an opu- 
lent city, the riches of which excited the avarice of Tar- 
quin. He found more resistance than he expected, being 
obliged to besiege it in form. During this siege love 
caused a singular revolution at Rome. The young 
nobility sought to forget their fatigues in the pleasures 
of the table, at a repast given by Sextus Tarquinus ; the 
king's son being a little elevated, and the conversation 
turning upon the merit of their wives, every guest 
made the eulogiuiii upon his t none with so much 

ardor and tenderness as Collatinus, cousin of Sextus. 
He was descended from JEginus, nephew of the ancient 
Tarquin, and enjoyed, as his own inheritance, the city of 
Collatia, which had been given him by his grandfather. 

It was there he passed the most happy days with 
Lucretia his wife. Her beauty, her birth, her virtue 
and the gentleness of her disposition, all united to render 
her extremely amiable. Collatinus loved her to adora- 
tion, and was sensible of no greater pleasure than an 
opportunity to boast of his good fortune. The portrait 
which he drew of Lucretia at the entertainment of Sex- 
tus, excited the curiosity of the guests, who proposed to 
go and surprise their wives, and immediately every 



70 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

young noble mounted his horse, and when they had 
arrived at Rome they found the three wives of Tarquin's 
sons engaged in their pleasures ; and from them they 
proceeded to Collatia, where the scene was very differ- 
ent, for Lucretia was tranquilly seated in the midst of her 
women at work. This interview made the deepest 
impression on the heart 6*f Sextus Tarquin ; he con- 
ceived for Lucretia the most violent passion, and thought 
only of the means to accomplish his wishes. A few days 
after, he introduced himself, towards night, into the 
house of Collatinus, under pretence of giving some 
orders concerning the siege. Lucretia received him 
with all the civility due to the son of a king, and to her 
husband's relation. Scarcely had this young prince 
retired to his apartment, and when thinking every one 
in the house to be asleep, he repaired to the chamber of 
Lucretia. His first words were a threat to kill her if she 
attempted to make the least noise ; he then declared his 
passion in the most ardent expressions. Finding the 
virtue of Lucretia immovable, he again renewed his 
threats to kill her, adding that he would convey a slave 
into her bed, whom he would also kill, and publish that 
he had by these murders avenged the honor of Collati- 
nus. Death appeared but trifling in the eyes of the 
chaste Lucretia, but to die dishonored in the opinion of 
her husband, his family, and the public ! she could not 
support the idea, and yielded. The following day 
Lucretia desired her husband to meet her at the house 
of her father-in-law at Rome, where she repaired attired 
in deep mourning. This appearance surprised her father 
and her husband, but she refused to satisfy their curi- 
osity till they had assembled her family. It was then 
she informed Collatinus of the crime of Sextus Tarquinus. 



THE STOEY OF LUCEETIA. 71 

This recital excited the indignation of all present, but 
the sight of Lucretia, who plunged a dagger into her 
own bosom, inspired the whole assembly with the great- 
est horror and fury. 

Junius Brutus, the relation of Tarquin, son of a re- 
spectable senator, whom this prince had put to death on 
account of his virtue and riches, and who had himself 
only escaped the same fate, from having the address to 
counterfeit idiotism — Brutus being present at this affect- 
ing scene, drew near the expiring Lucretia, and tearing 
out the dagger stained with her blood, held it up, and 
said, " By this blood once so pure, and which had never 
been contaminated but for the detestable Tarquin, I 
swear that I will pursue with sword and fire, the king, 
the queen, and their children, and will exterminate from 
these places a guilty race, which infects the throne of 
the Romans ; Gods, I call you to witness my oath ! " 
These words, pronounced with firmness by a man, who 
till this moment had been considered an idiot, made the 
deepest impression, and all present took the same oath. 
Without losing a moment, Lucretius, who was governor 
of Rome in the king's absence, caused the gates of the 
city to be shut, to hinder any from going out. 

Brutus then assembled the people, and after exposing 
the bloody corpse of Lucretia, he painted in the most 
energetic terms the unjust tyrannic and violent conduct 
of Tarquin, and what they had to expect on the part of 
his sons, and concluded with offering liberty to the 
Romans if they would join with and support him. Re- 
peated acclamations convinced Brutus, that they 
applauded his views. The senate issued an edict, which 
perpetually condemned the Tar quins and their posterity 
to banishment and deprived them of the rights and 



12 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

honors of royalty. They then confided the authority to 
Spurius Lucretius, and the resolution was taken to de- 
stroy the monarchy, and to create two consuls. Brutus 
and Collatinus were immediately chosen to fill their 
places. Without suffering the ardor of the Romans to 
cool, they departed for the army which lay before 
Ardea ; the chiefs who had be : informed of the revolu- 
tion, had gained the troops, who declared in favor of the 
new government. Tarquin, attempted to enter Rome, 
but having found the gates shut against him, was obliged 
to retire with his family to Ceri, the city of the 
Etrurians. Sextus, author of the king's misfortune, re- 
tired to the Gabiens whom lie had once deceived in the 
most unworthy manner ; and as he was in a situation no 
longer to be feared, th deprived him of his life to 
punish his perfidy. This was in the year of Rome 243. 



THE LOVES OF MAHOMET. 

Love and woman may be regarded as the original 
foundation of the religion of Mahomet. This man, so 
celebrated from the establishment and the progress of his 
laws, was born of poor parents ; and to complete his mis- 
fortune, lost them during his infancy. An uncle was his 
only protector, and not being himself very rich, to make 
some provision for Mahomet, bound him to a woman 
named Chadigha, who sold goods in Syria. The youth 
and talents of Mahomet made an impression on this 
woman, and she married him. He endeavored to hide 
from Chadigha an infirmity which was sufficient to dis- 
gust the most enamored, and his courage and his 



THE LOVES OP MAHOMET. 73 

cunning furnished him not only with the means of extri- 
cating himself from this difficulty, but still further 
enabled him to establish that reputation which super- 
stition so greatly increased. He informed Chadigha, as a 
great secret, that the Angel Gabriel made him frequent 
visits by the order of God, to instruct him in the true 
religion. We may suppose that the secret was ill kept, 
for the self love of Chadigha was too much nattered by 
the idea of being united to a man who had intercourse 
with angels, not to impart it to her neighbors; she 
advised them however, to keep it secret. But it was 
known to every one, and it was not long before 
Mahomet was considered a prophet. Thus we may con- 
ceive that the love of Chadigha for her kusband, did 
not a little contribute to inspire him with the idea, 
of becoming chief of a new sect. But most assuredly 
it was love that caused him to insert in the Alcoran, the 
article which permits husbands to court their servants. 
Mahomet, had but two wives when he became enam- 
ored with one of his slaves, named Maria, of singular 
beauty, and but fifteen years of age. His wives having 
surprised him, reproached him publicly ; and he promised 
never to repeat the offence, but afterwards, being 
tempted to break his word, he was obliged to make 
Heaven speak. There appeared a new revelation, which 
may be found in the sixty-sixth chapter of the Alcoran ; 
God there permits Mahomet and all the mussulmans to 
court their slaves in spite of their wives. " O prophet," 
it is there said, " why from the fear of thy wife's dis- 
pleasure, dost thou deprive thyself of those pleasures 
which God has granted thee." This pretty slave was an 
Egyptian by birth, and by education a Christian ; it is 
said, that the governor of Egypt had presented her to 

4 



V4r ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

Mahomet. The commands of God were revealed, only as 
the wants of the prophet made them necessary. Having 
become enamored of Zainab the wife of one of his 
freed-men, named Gaib, he carried her off and married 
her. The husband, complained loudly, and Mahomet 
then made an addition, to the thirty-third chapter of the 
Alcoran. God there positively declares that he has 
married Zainab to his prophet. However, as this article 
might justly awaken the apprehensions of those hus- 
bands who had pretty wives, Mahomet, to balance this 
difficulty, published that should he ever in future be- 
come enamored of married women, they should be 
sacred. In the meantime, Zainab, proud of this revela- 
lation relating to her, insulted the other wives of the 
prophet ; she pretended to the preference, as she had 
been, she said, married by the command of Heaven, while 
the union of her rivals was only the work of men. 
Mahomet, independent of his character as a prophet, 
which caused him to be greatly respected, had, it is said, 
the art of making himself beloved by his wives ; never- 
theless he still feared the inconstancy of the sex, and his 
jealousy was so great, " that he threatened his wives 
with a punishment infinitely more severe than that of 
other women, both in this world, and in the next, pro- 
viding they proved unfaithful to him." To prevent the 
men from conversing with his wives, " he caused those 
verses to appear as coming from God, in the Alcoran, 
where he announces, " that they should not enter the 
prophet's house without permission, and that if they 
were invited to dine with him, they should depart im- 
mediately after the repast, without entering into conver- 
sation with his women ;" and in the same chapter he 
forbids his women to speak to any man unless their faces 



MADAME DE MAINTENON. 75 

were covered with a veil. But in spite of all his talents, 
all his precautions, Mahomet could not preserve himself 
from the misfortune he had foreseen and so greatly- 
feared, and this too from a quarter where he was the 
most in love. He then composed the twenty-fourth 
chapter of the Alcoran to prove his wife innocent and to 
exculpate himself for having kept her. He then de- 
clared to his Musselmans, on the part of God, that all the 
reports which had been circulated to the disadvantage 
of Agetha were only the blackest calumnies, and forbid 
them to be spoken of again. Agetha mortally hated Ali, 
because he discovered to Mahomet her incontinence. 
A man who was so impolitic as to boast of favors from 
the beautiful Agetha, received by the order of Heaven 
fourscore lashes. 



MADAME DE MAINTENON. 

The elevation of Madame de Maintenon is un- 
doubtedly the most surprising event that was ever 
effected by love. It is known that she was descended 
from Constant d'Aubigne, son of Theodore Agrippa, 
gentleman in ordinary of Henry IV., and whose satiri- 
cal works are well known. With this birth Mademoi- 
selle d'Aubigne had no inherited fortune. At the age 
of seventeen, she was obliged to embrace a state of de- 
pendence in the house of Madame de Mullaret, mother 
of the Duchess de Navailles, her relation, where she was 
treated very unkindly. Her friends, to draw her from 
so humiliating a situation, persuaded her to marry the 
famous Scar on — a marriage which was solely projected 



76 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

with the view of making some provision for Mademoi- 
selle d'Aubigne, as the infirmities of Scaron were well 
known. The death of this singular husband, a short 
time after, plunged his widow nearly into her former 
misery, although the queen-mother was very willing to 
continue the pension she had allowed Scaron. Some 
years after, the king added a pension of two thousand 
livres, saying, " Madame, I have made you wait a long 
time, but you have had so many friends that I wished to 
have the sole merit of obliging you myself." 

At length the friends of the widow Scaron introduced 
her to the acquaintance of Madame de Montespan, who 
confided to her the education of the Duke du Maine, 
and the other children she had by Louis XIV. She 
acquitted herself of this charge in such a manner as to 
merit the approbation of the king. Her endeavors to 
appease the fury of Madame de Montespan, who at that 
time was jealous of every woman the king saw, entirely 
gained her his favor. Love lost no time in the conver- 
sations between the king and Madame Scaron. He 
insinuated himself into the heart of the monarch, and 
when this was perceived by the favorite, it was in vain 
she broke forth into reproaches, threatened to kill her- 
self, and showed all the revenge of a desperate mistress; 
but she was at last forced to resign her place to the 
widow Scaron. Louis XIV. was at an age when the 
passions are less violent, and that which the gover- 
ness of his children had inspired, was mostly founded 
upon esteem. To become the mistress of a great king 
was not sufficient for the widow Scaron — she aspired to 
something higher, and obtained it. She was possessed 
of sufficient address to give birth to scruples in the 
mind of a prince, who, till then, had only thought of sat- 



LOYE AND RELIGION. 77 

isfying his desires ; and she made use of these means 
to make him consent to a marriage, that he might have 
the power of lawfully enjoying the pleasures he sought. 
The ceremony was performed in private, in a little 
chapel of the palace of Versailles. Monsieur de Har- 
lay, Archbishop of Paris, gave the nuptial benediction ; 
Montchevreuil and Bontems were the witnesses. If 
the wife of Louis XIV. did not enjoy the honors at- 
tached to the title of queen, she had all the power. 
She absolutely governed the kingdom ; and the defer- 
ence of the king for her opinion was so great, that 
he held the council in her apartments ; and she worked 
at her frame, and, with a motion of her head, decided 
everything. In this high and elevated position, 
Madame de Maintenon preserved a modesty and moder- 
ation worthy the highest elogium. 



LOYE AND RELIGION. 

The sect of the Mammilaries, which is a branch of 
the Anabaptists, owes its origin to love. A young 
Anabaptist was deeply enamored of a lady, whom he 
proposed to marry. In a tete-a-tete with her, infat- 
uated by the violence of his love, he believed he might 
take any liberties, and he ventured too far. This action 
came to the knowledge of the doctors of the sect, and 
they soon convened an assembly to deliberate upon 
the punishment they should inflict upon the young 
lover. Some declared for excommunication, others, 
more indulgent for the impulses of nature, maintained 



78 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

that the fault was pardonable. This raised a dispute 
among the two parties. As is general in such cases, 
neither would yield, and it occasioned a schism. Those 
who were for the pardon were called Mammilaries. 
This laughable event occurred at Harlem. 



MARCELLUS AND JULIA. 

Makcellits, son of Marcus Claudius Marcellus, and 
of Octavia, sister of Augustus, was, by his birth, the 
person who had the strongest right to the empire. To 
these titles he united the most pleasing figure, and all 
the amiable qualities of heart and understanding. He 
was also extremely beloved by Augustus and the Ro- 
mans. To show him more particular marks of his affec- 
tion, Augustus gave him Julia, his daughter, whom 
he had by Scribonia, his third wife. They were united 
at the happy age when the soul begins to expand with 
pleasure, and everything seemed to conduce to the 
happiness of these two young lovers. The ambition 
of the Empress Livia inspired her with the resolution 
of taking the life of Marcellus, which she accordingly 
did. But previous to this sad event, this amiable prince 
had the misfortune to perceive that he did. not possess 
the heart of Julia, for already her inclination towards 
intrigue had shown itself, and, says a historian, " Mar- 
cellus, who so greatly merited to be beloved, was 
the one whom she loved the least." There are some 
authors who pretend that Tiberius, successor of Augus- 
tus, and who finally married Julia, received from this 



THE FIRST LOVE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 79 

princess, during her marriage with Marcellus, certain 
testimonies of her affection. If this be true, Tiberius 
was in his turn exposed to the mortification of feeling 
how disagreeable it was to be dishonored by his wife. 
The death of Marcellus was sung by Virgil, and it is 
known that Octavia very liberally recompensed this 
poet for his verses. 



THE FIKST LOVE OF UUEEN ELIZABETH. 

When the Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII. 
of England, ascended the throne upon the death of her 
brother, Edward VI., she resolved to establish in her 
kingdom the Catholic religion, which had, as we have 
seen, been abolished by the passions of Henry. But to 
effect a similar revolution, the queen required the 
assistance of a husband. Several aspired to this honor, 
but the nobleman whose hopes were of all best founded 
was Edward Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, Mary's 
cousin by her grandmother, who was daughter of Ed- 
ward IV. and sister to Henry VIII.'s mother. To 
this royal descent the Earl of Devonshire joined the 
graces of youth and the allurements of his person. He 
had another title still better — he was pleasing to Mary. 
This princess, notwithstanding the austerity of her 
devotion, could not forbear reviewing the earl with a 
secret pleasure. It was in vain that the queen's min- 
isters, won by the gold of Spain, spoke oj^enly for 
Philip of Austria; it was in vain that the English 
Catholics were desirous of raising to the throne Cardi- 
nal Poole, then only a deacon, for the presence of 



80 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

Courtney prevailed over the arguments of the ministers, 
and the views of the English. It was now in the power 
of this nobleman to ascend the throne, but he could 
not sufficiently conceal the disgust with which Mary 
inspired him. He was utterly ruined with this princess 
by his passion for Elizabeth, daughter also of Henry 
VIII., but detested by the queen, her sister. The Earl 
of Devonshire had, however, great reason to be at- 
tached to the queen, to whom he was under many 
obligations. He had been a prisoner in the Tower 
during the reign of Edward, but as soon as Mary re- 
ceived the crown, she liberated him, and restored to 
him all the honors which the Earl of Handley, his father, 
had possessed. The two following letters will give the 
reader the best information upon this subject ; the first 
is from Elizabeth to the earl, her lover : 

"My Loed — 

" I do not doubt your love, but I fear this 
passion will be to your prejudice. It is this which 
obliges me to conceal my preference for you, having 
so little hope ; but I am sensible that your generous 
heart can love even to suspicion, which gives new 
charms to this passion. I am certain, when you reflect 
upon the danger to which you expose yourself of losing 
a crown, or at least a very great authority in the king- 
dom, by not acceding to the love the queen bears you, 
you will give up a fond passion which you have con- 
ceived for her, who could wish that her power and her 
fortune were equal to her gratitude and inclination to 
render you happy. I am, I say, assured that when you 
reflect upon your own interest, you will absent yourself 
as far from me as I could wish to be near you. Con- 



THE FIRST LOVE OE QUEEN ELIZABETH. 81 

sider, my dear earl, that love often blinds reason, and 
usually precipitates those who folio w him into a gulf 
of misfortunes, then, taking flight, leaves them to extri- 
cate themselves as they are able. Reflect calmly upon 
advice coming only from a heart that seeks your 
interests. Do me the justice to believe that my love 
exceeds your own, and that I wait with impatience to 
tell you by word of mouth what prudence will not 
permit me to write. 

" Elizabeth." 

The earl's reply was written in these words : 

" Madam — 

"I wish that I had two hearts, that I might 
sacrifice one to your good advice ; but having only one 
destined to render me happy, by the passion I entertain 
for you, it would be death to live for any other. Be 
persuaded, my dear princess, that it is not in the power 
of fortune, nor the crown, to shake my passion, nor 
force, nor violence in this world, to tear from my heart 
a resolution I have formed of consecrating it to you. 
I know that it is great presumption in me to dare, with- 
out merit, asj)ire to the greatest happiness upon earth — 
that of loving the most beautiful and worthy princess in 
the universe. I rejoice, madam, however, to learn that 
you know love is blind, because that makes me hope 
you will not wonder at the temerity of a heart which 
can love but one object that merits crowns and king- 
doms. I agreeably flatter my passion, by incessantly 
dwelling upon your merit, and support my hopes by 
convincing myself more and more that I am incapable 
of loving any but yourself, having resolved to wish for 
no other happiness in this world but that I shall owe to 

4* 



82 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

you. Vouchsafe to pardon the too great liberty taken 
by him who cannot live without loving you, nor die but 
your faithful servant, 

" Courtney." 

These letters were unfortunately intercepted, and the 
queen was so enraged to find that Courtney refused to 
yield to her desires, that she not only revenged herself 
upon him, but extended her rage to the Princess Eliza- 
beth, and this was one of the principal causes of the 
persecutions she suffered. The queen at first com- 
manded her to retire to the Castle of Alfriedge, to pre- 
vent the earl's seeing her, as his ofiice obliged him to be 
always at court. 

Love, who admits no difficulty, furnished Courtney 
with frequent opportunities of seeing his beloved 
princess, and he failed not to write her. The jealousy 
of the queen rendered her clear-sighted, and she soon 
learned that the lovers often met. She then set no 
bounds to her vengeance, and a conspiracy formed 
against her, and discovered in the interval, furnished the 
means she wished for. The Earl of Devonshire, and the 
Princess Elizabeth, were accused of being accomplices in 
this conspiracy, and were arrested. Several authors 
maintain that they were innocent, and that the jealousy 
of the queen was the sole cause of their misfortune. 
However the earl was accused " of being concerned in 
the conspiracy, and of attempting to drive Mary from 
the throne, and to place Elizabeth in her stead, who had 
given him a promise of marriage," and without any re- 
gard being paid to his defence, he was conducted to the 
Castle of Fotheringay, where he was strictly guarded. 
The Princess Elizabeth, after being carried to Whitehall, 



THE FIRST LOVE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 83 

as a criminal, and after having undergone an examination, 
was conducted to the Tower and treated with great 
severity. This was, however, but the beginning of her 
troubles ; soon after she was removed to Woodstock, 
where the treatment she received made her believe that 
she was soon to die. The marriage of Mary with Philip, 
should have ended these persecutions which jealousy had 
caused ; nevertheless it was not till some months after, 
that Elizabeth was restored to liberty. She came to 
thank the queen, and was conducted to the apartment 
of the king, who was much interested in her fate. This 
prince gave her the most gracious reception ; he even 
showed her so much civility that the queen became 
jealous, and fancied that Philip, preferring her sister 
on account of her beauty, would poison her to marry 
Elizabeth. This jealousy became so violent, that the 
prince dared not speak favorably of Elizabeth, and still 
less to see her. Princess Elizabeth, perceiving this, 
prudently asked permission to retire to the Castle of 
Hertford, which was readily granted. The liberty of 
Elizabeth was followed by that of Courtney, but it was 
only granted on condition that he should neither 
directly or indirectly hold any correspondence with the 
princess, which greatly affected them both, as they 
tenderly loved each other, and it was even suspected 
there existed a promise of marriage between them. 
Elizabeth, to avoid danger, advised the earl to leave 
England for some time, which he prudently did. He 
withdrew into Flanders, but absence did not prevent 
their corresponding. King Philip, hearing of this, be- 
came jealous, and this passion produced upon him the 
most violent effects. Convinced that he would never 
have children by his present wife, he hoped after her 



84 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

death to marry the Princess Elizabeth. Her love for 
Courtney was an obstacle to this project. Full of these 
ideas, and informed of the correspondence of these 
lovers, he resolved to prevent their union by the death 
of the earl. This nobleman died so suddenly at Ghent, 
that it was suspected he was poisoned. Elizabeth was 
inconsolable ; it is also believed that she then made a 
vow never to marry. Sometimes she would say to her 
confidants, " that never did any one deserve to be more 
loved than the Earl of Devonshire, because no one knew 
better how to love." Several years after she still said, 
a the Earl of Devonshire was an angel in love." In con- 
clusion, we add the copy of the letter, which Courtney 
wrote to Elizabeth in his last illness ; she presented the 
domestic who brought it a gold medal. 

" My dear Princess : 

"Finding myself attacked with an ague and fever, 
so violent as to threaten me with death, I am desirous 
of availing myself of the few moments' cessation from 
delirium which my disease occasions, to do myself the 
honor to write you, not knowing one moment from 
another what may be the result of this illness. I con- 
jure you to consider how deep must be the love that I 
bear for you, since I cease not to remember you, and to 
write to you, in the last moments of my life, which ought 
to be solely dedicated to the preservation of my soul. I 
intreat you to believe that the extreme love I have ever 
entertained for you has been pure and sincere, and that 
I have never conceived any other thought than that of 
becoming one day your husband, by just and lawful 
vows. But providence, who has not thought me worthy 
of such happiness, is pleased to chastise my temerity, for 



THE STORY OF MART, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND. 85 

which, my dear princess, I solicit your pardon, and in any 
way else that I may have unguardedly offended you. 
From the first day that you honored me with marks of 
your favor, I resolved to be faithful to you till death ; it 
is very just therefore in the state I find myself, to fulfill 
that promise, by consecrating to you my last sighs. I 
die an exile, for no other crime than that of having sup- 
ported the interests of her who honors me with her love 
and permits me to return her affection, and in the ex- 
tremity of my disease, I find no consolation, but in 
writing this letter to you. I hope you will have the 
goodness to receive it with the same royal generosity, 
with which you have deigned to love me, and that you 
will also approve of my restoring two rings here inclosed, 
and which I return to the hands from which I received 
them. I could not deprive myself of them, did I think I 
should long survive, and it is for that reason I have 
given orders for this letter not to be forwarded to you 
till after my death. The fever, which again seizes me, 
will not suffer me to say more, and I conclude with 
much reluctance. Adieu my dear princess." 

After the death of Queen Mary, Philip asked Queen 
Elizabeth in marriage ; she refused, it is said, because she 
believed he had poisoned Courtney. 



THE STORY OF MAM QUEEN' OF SCOTLAND. 

It is very certain that Love caused the principal mis- 
fortunes of Mary Stuart, widow of Francis the Second, 
King of France, Queen of Scotland, and daughter of 



86 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

James V. King of Scotland, and of Margaret of Lorraine? 
daughter of the Duke of Guise, and widow of the Duke 
of Longueville. But it is not equally certain that she has 
merited the reproaches cast upon her by some historians. 
Educated at the court of France, which was the most 
polished in all ages, and left to her own guidance by the 
death of Francis II. at an age when the passions have the 
greatest empire, and endowed with all the graces of 
nature, she found herself obliged, on her return to Scot- 
land, to reside among infatuated barbarians. Without 
the least consideration they commented upon every 
action of this princess, because she attended mass. The 
recital of her misfortunes is that of her weakness, or, at 
least, has the appearance of such. When Mary was 
obliged to leave France to reign in Scotland, she was 
only nineteen years of age. Possessed of uncommon 
personal beauty, she saw herself surrounded by a set of 
furious zealots and fanatics. Her marriage with Lord 
Darnley, son of the Duke of Lennox, seemed to open a 
fair prospect, and she gave herself up to this flattering 
delusion. But the bad qualities of the king soon changed 
her ardent love into the most marked indifference. This 
prince who had used every means to estrange the heart 
of the queen, now thought proper to become jealous of 
her. David Rizzio, a musician born at Piedmont, was 
the object of his jealousy. 

It is true that this man possessed' the entire confidence 
of Mary, and that he abused the power which his address 
had gained over the mind of the princess. His insolence 
and haughtiness made him several powerful enemies, who 
persuaded the king that this stranger had dishonored 
him, and he resigned himself to all the fury of jealousy. 
The queen was supping with Rizzio when he was assas- 



THE STOEY OF MARY, QUEEN OE SCOTLAND. 87 

sinated in her presence. Mary resolved to avenge this 
action in a most signal manner, and from that time, to 
satisfy her hatred to the king, abandoned herself to all 
the fascinations of love. The Earl of Bothwell, one of 
the greatest lords of Scotland, but involved in debt and 
given up to intrigue, soon after succeeded Rizzio in the 
favor of the queen. The king, who had no qualities that 
could inspire either respect or fear, was treated by Mary 
with the most sovereign contempt. It was even debated 
whether a divorce should not take place. This project 
was perhaps attended with too many difficulties, and 
they made choice of one which was shorter, but far more 
criminal. The prince had been ill for some time, and 
under pretence of having him removed from the noise and 
tumult, they conveyed him to a house separated from the 
castle. During the night this house was blown up, and 
the king was found the next morning dead in a neighbor- 
ing field. In spite of the popularity of Bothwell, and 
the respect the queen still inspired, they were both 
openly accused of being the authors of this murder. 
What confirmed these suspicions was, that the queen 
and Bothwell contented themselves without making the 
slightest researches for the guilty, and punished with the 
utmost severity those who circulated libels against them. 
The queen had conducted herself in such a manner as to 
leave no doubt that she had, at least, consented to a 
crime which disgraced her. Bothwell, while accused of 
this murder, did not for a moment cease to be the favorite 
of the queen, and even after all this, she married him. 
The first passion of Mary for Rizzio had caused her the 
deepest mortification ; and this last weakness, which 
made her approve so many crimes, caused her ruin. 
But, in justice to Mary, we may still suppose that 



88 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

Bothwell, presuming too much upon her favor, had 
himself consummated the crime without informing her 
of his intent. From the people, the fermentation passed 
into the niinds of the nobility, and there was soon a 
general revolt. The queen, not daring to trust her 
own troops, was obliged to deliver herself into the 
hands of her enemies, who conducted her to Edinburgh, 
where she suffered from the populace the severest re- 
proaches. Her love, which blinded her, hastened her 
fate. The Scottish lords intercepted a letter which she 
wrote to Bothwell, in which she assured him " that she 
would suffer all the woes imaginable, that she would 
even sacrifice her rank and power, sooner than renounce 
her love. This letter greatly irritated the malcontents. 
They rejected the mediation of the queen, and appeared 
determined to use the most violent measures. They 
obliged her to resign the throne, and established, as 
regent of the kingdom, the Earl of Murray. In this 
critical situation, George Douglas, captivated by th§ 
charms of Mary, and enchanted by the flattering hopes 
she gave him, soon liberated her. Soon after this, she 
found herself at the head of a very numerous army. 
But a battle soon decided her fate. The Earl of Mur- 
ray was victorious, and Mary threw herself into the 
hands of the Queen of England, in the hope of finding 
protection, or, at least, compassion and humanity. But 
she was deceived. After having repeatedly asked an 
interview with the queen, she found herself a prisoner, 
having been accused by the Regent of Scotland of 
having caused the death of the king, her husband ; and 
these accusations were supported by her own letters to 
Bothwell, which breathed the most passionate love. 
In short, after being a prisoner for nineteen years, 



THE STORY OF MART, QTJEEN OF SCOTLAND. 89 

during which time she made several useless attempts 
to regain her liberty, she perished on the scaffold, at 
the age of forty-six, under the charge of having author- 
ized and excited conspiracies against the life of Eliza- 
beth. Before her death, the unfortunate Mary, incensed 
at the severity of Elizabeth's proceedings, revenged 
herself in a manner of which Elizabeth was, no doubt, 
deeply sensible. The Earl of Shrewsbury was, for some 
time, intrusted with the care of Mary, and the liberty 
he enjoyed of seeing the beauty and graces of his pri- 
soner, rendered him extremely enamored. The countess 
did not for some time discover this passion ; but after 
perceiving it, her jealousy converted all feelings of 
friendship into the most revengeful hatred. 

Mary, wishing to punish the countess, and mortify 
the queen, wrote to the latter a detail of all the malig- 
nant and scandalous stories that she said had been told 
her by the Countess of Shrewsbury. For example, that 
Elizabeth had made a promise of marriage to a certain 
person, whom she frequently received in her chamber, 
and that she had granted some favors to Sinclair, Agent 
of France, and to the Duke of Anjou. That Halton 
had also been among the number of her lovers, but 
that he was disgusted with the excess of her tender- 
ness. That, on every occasion, she was to the last de- 
gree avaricious, and spared nothing to satisfy her amor- 
ous caprices, and that she was so sensible of her own 
beauty, that she became intoxicated with the extrava- 
gant flatteries of her courtiers, who did not hesitate 
to laugh at her expense as soon as they left her. That, 
in short, the countess had represented her as a woman 
odious in her character, and corrupt in her morals. 
It is not surprising that Elizabeth was enraged at such 



90 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

a letter, and perhaps her jealousy and personal hatred 
contributed more to the death of Mary than reasons of 
state. Bothwell, the true cause of the misfortunes of 
this beautiful queen, escaped at the time she was obliged 
to surrender herself to her revolted subjects. After 
having joined a company of pirates, he was taken by the 
Danish corsairs, and thrown into prison, where he be- 
came insane, and died ten years after — in 1568. 



RAVAGES OCCASIONED BY LOVE. 

Mary, sister of Charles V., was married to Lewis, King 
of Hungaria. After the death of this prince, the empe- 
ror, her brother, established the government of the Low 
Countries. Amongst the number of lords who composed 
his court, was Monsieur de Barb an con, " the handsomest 
nobleman of his time." It was suspected that the queen 
well knew this fact, and the French soldiers amused 
themselves by making songs upon that subject. Mary 
heard of it with the greatest anger, believing that King 
Henry II. authorized the pleasantries of his troops. 
She resolved to revenge herself, and did so in a very 
severe manner. She caused Koyon, Nasle, Chauny, 
Roye, and particularly Tolembray, the royal house built 
by Francis L, to be burned. Henry felt authorized to 
make reprisals, and reduced to ashes Marienbourg, 
Bains and Bavets, places which Mary dearly prized, 
especially Marienbourg, and also the castle of Bains, 
which she had built and ornamented with peculiar care. 
It was love, however, that occasioned all these ravages. 
This occurred in the year 1540. 



MAXIMUS AND EUDOXIA. 91 



MAXIMUS AND EUDOXIA. 

Maximus, a senator of Rome, was son of Maximus who 
had been put to death under the empire of Theodosius, 
for having usurped the sovereign authority. He enjoyed 
a great reputation under the Emperor Valentine III., and 
what added to this was, that the prince was enamored 
of his wife. But this beautiful woman, who was virtuous 
and little sensible to the allurements of honors and for- 
tune, courageously refused all the proposals of the empe- 
ror. But being one day at a play with Maximus, he 
won so much that Maximus was not able to pay, and he 
exacted his ring as a pledge for the sum he owed him. 
Artfully profiting by this circumstance, Valentine sent 
this ring to the wife of Maximus, as from her husband, 
desiring her to come to the palace, which she accordingly 
did without hesitation, and soon found herself in the 
presence of the emperor, who seized by violence what 
he had not been able to procure by love. Maximus, 
like a skillful courtier, apparently overlooked this affront ; 
but only to render his vengeance the more sure. The 
emperor, abandoned to his pleasures, and living hi effemi- 
nacy, bestowed the care of the empire upon iEtius, who 
was worthy of the trust. Maximus by calumnies and 
artifices rendered the virtues of iEtius suspected, and 
this great man was condemned to death. It was fol- 
lowed by that of Valentine, whom Maximus caused to 
be privately assassinated. These crimes gained for him 
the empire, and to establish himself on the throne he 
married Eudoxia, widow of the emperor. In a moment 
of passion, Maximus, thinking to gain the affection of 
Eudoxia, who had shown much repugnance to giving 



92 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

him her hand, declared that he was the author of Valen- 
tine's death, and that he was hurried to that extremity 
by the violence of his passion for her. Such a declara- 
tion naturally increased the hatred of Eudoxia for Maxi- 
mus. She secretly called to her assistance Genseric, 
king of the Vandals. This barbarian, enchanted with 
so favorable an opportunity, hastened to her with a 
numerous army, seized upon Rome, abandoned every- 
thing to pillage, put Maximus to death, and, little grate- 
ful for the service of Eudoxia, carried her into captivity 
with her two daughters, Eudocia Honoria and Placida. 



BATTLE OF LOYE IN A SACK. 

The desire of marrying a beautiful woman gave rise 
to a singular combat, perhaps the only one of its kind. 
Two gentlemen, one a Spaniard, and the other a Ger- 
man, both notable for their birth and the services 
they had rendered the emperor, Maximilian II., asked 
the hand of the beautiful Helena Scharsequint, his 
natural daughter, in marriage. The prince, after much 
delay, said one day, that he esteemed them both equally, 
and feeling much embarrassed, he had resolved that their 
own prowess and address should decide the matter ; but 
not being willing to risk the loss of either, by permitting 
them to use offensive weapons, he had ordered a large 
sack to be brought, and the one who should succeed in 
putting his rival into it, should obtain his daughter. 
This whimsical combat between the two gentlemen was 
performed in the presence of an imperial court, and con- 



molieke's love. 93 

tinued for nearly an hour. At last the Spaniard was 
overcome, and the German, Andrew Eberhard, Baron 
Talbert, having enveloped him in the sack, took him on 
his back and laid him at the feet of the emperor, and 
the next day married the beautiful Helena Scharse- 
quint. 



MOLIERE'S LOVE. 

Jean Baptists Piquelin, better known by name of 
Moliere, had been destined in his youth for the bar, and 
had for some time studied law. It is probable that he 
never would have abandoned that profession, but for the 
love of a comedian, whom he could not give up. If this 
be true, it is to love, that we are indebted for all the 
master-pieces of Moliere, and it is to this passion that 
he owes the reputation he enjoyed, and which will never 
be effaced. Love, it is true, was not always so favorable 
to him. His wife was named Bijard, and was the 
daughter of a comedienne of that name, with whom 
Moliere, had been so intimate that slanderous tongues 
said he was the father of his wife. The wife of Moliere 
was very prftty, and made a lively impression upon him, 
the first time she appeared upon the stage. The Counts 
de Guiche and de Lauzan, were the first who hinted to 
Moliere suspicions of the virtue of his better half. He 
had on this subject a tender and amicable explanation 
with her, and his discourse appeared then to affect her 
sensibly. But soon after, some officious friends showed 
to Moliere things that he was ignorant of. He had the 
weakness to show his anger, and his wife, availing her- 



94 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

self of the opportunity, showed resentment also ; and, 
under pretence of the infidelities of her husband with a 
comedienne named Brie, whom he loved, and who lived 
in the same house with her, she insisted upon a separa- 
tion. From that time, although the separation did not 
take place, she constantly with contempt refused the en- 
dearments and attentions of her husband. What was 
truly unfortunate for Moliere was that he still loved his 
wife, and he was, alas ! the only one to whom she refused 
her love. 



MAECENAS. 

Caius Celeus Maecenas, so well known, was of Etru- 
rian origin ; and he attained to the highest degree of 
favor, under the reign of Augustus. It was to the pro- 
tection of Maecenas that Horace was indebted for his 
pardon, after the defeat of Brutus. Maecenas, in a word, 
was a friend to the whole world, and all historians award 
him this well deserved and nattering title. His name 
is still the most nattering title that can be given to him, 
who protects and supports the learned. But unfortu- 
nately for Maecenas, he had a handsome 'Vife, named 
Terentia, or Terentilla. Augustus took a fancy to her, 
and his passion became intense, and his rank secured him 
from repulse. Maecenas was much displeased at this, and 
had the ill-address to show his anger. His services were 
then forgotten and he was disgraced. To complete his 
troubles, Augustus carried Terentilla with him into Gaul, 
and it is even said that he took this voyage, merely to 
enjoy her society with less restraint and to secure himself 



HEROISM AND LOVE. 95 

against the reproaches of Livia, and the complaints of 
Maecenas. This favorite, at length, pursued the wisest 
course, and forgot his chagrin in pleasures, and became 
again the friend of the emperor. He died in the year 
of Rome, 745. 



HEROISM AND LOVE. 

The great Conde was preparing to raise the siege of 
Cambrai, when he learned, that the Marshal de la Ferte 
besieged Montmedy. The prince thought the governor 
had resisted so long that he would be able to take 
Calais. This governor was named Montlandrin, and had 
resolved to defend himself to the last extremity, when 
he was killed through a mistake of his garrison, who 
mistook him for an enemy. This brave officer was to 
have been married on the same day that he was intrusted 
with command. Although he tenderly loved his in- 
tended bride, he postponed his nuptials, thinking that if 
fortune did not second his courage, it should not be said 
he had consecrated to love the moments he owed to 
glory. As soon as he was told that his wound was mor- 
tal, he resolved to die upon the breach. His betrothed 
received his last sighs, and instead of resigning herself 
to tears and groans, held in her own, the arms of her 
lover. Burning with the desire to revenge his death, she 
earnestly entreated the soldiers to fight and die for their 
king. But this noble enthusiasm, excited by love and 
despair, did not infuse itself through the garrison. 
Struck with dismay at the death of their governor, they 
demanded a capitulation. 



96 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 



THE LOVES OF NERO. 

Love began the discord between Nero and his 
mother. This prince, who attained the throne through 
the crimes of Agrippa, began his reign with great mode- 
ration, and even made the senate and people esteem 
and love him. He became deeply in love with a girl 
named Acta, but the fear which he still felt for his 
mother, made him take all possible precautions to 
conceal this intrigue ; but Agrippina, who employed 
vigilant spies, was soon informed of all. Desirous of 
reigning under the name of her son, she feared that 
Acta might prove a dangerous rival. She broke out 
into the most violent reproaches against her son, and 
those who assisted him in his amours. Afterwards, she 
endeavored to overcome him by her caresses and prayers, 
but she clearly perceived that Nero had more respect 
than affection for her. Nero had married Octavia, who, 
by her birth, her graces, and her virtues, merited all his 
attachment. But becoming enamored of Poppia Sabina, 
the wife of Otho, he evinced even disgust for the virtu- 
ous Octavia. Poppia, who had made herself sole mis- 
tress of his heart, soon succeeded, by her caresses and 
tears, in making him divorce his wife. But he still 
feared Agrippina. Already familiar with crime, and 
vanquished by the endearments of the woman he adored, 
he at last resolved upon the ruin of his mother. Having 
reflected upon the means he should use, he determined 
that she should perish in a storm. This plot did not 
succeed, and Agrippina being only slightly wounded, 
Nero resolved to throw off the mask. Without 
giving his mother time to recover herself, he sent sol- 



THE LOVES OF NERO. 97 

diers, who put her to death. What appears almost 
incredible, is that Barrhus and Seneca were accomplices 
in this most horrid crime ; and that the Romans offered 
up thanks to the gods for Agrippina's death, on pretence 
that she would have attempted the life of her son. 
Nevertheless Nero did not dare to divorce Octavia ; but 
some two years after he exiled her, after having put her 
slaves to the torture to prove that she had been untrue. 
The people, who were extremely attached to the 
princess, made their displeasure known to the emperor, 
and he was obliged to recall her. Poppia then fearing 
for her life, threw herself with tears at the feet of the 
emperor, and made him resolve upon the death of 
Octavia. To justify this new crime, they had recourse 
to a vile freed-man, who publicly declared that he had 
received the last favors from the princess. No one 
believed it ; but still this unfortunate lady — the daugh- 
ter, the sister, and the wife of an emperor — was exiled 
to the Isle of Pandatoria, where she soon after received 
the barbarous order of renouncing her life. It was 
hard to die at the age of twenty ; but they opened her 
veins in spite of her cries and tears, and, as the blood 
did not flow quickly enough, they stifled her in a hot 
bath. The senate ordained that thanks should be 
offered to the gods for this event. Poppia, after the 
many crimes she had caused him to commit, at last 
married Nero. Her happiness was not of long duration. 
Having made some remonstrance to the emperor, he 
gave her a kick with his foot, of which she died. Nero 
then became enamored of Antonia, daughter of Clau- 
dius, and because she refused to marry him, he had her 
put to death, under pretence of a crime against the state. 



98 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 



THE LOYE OF NICOCKATES. 

Nicoceates, who was sovereign of Cyrene, in Lybia, 
conceived an ardent passion for Aretaphila, the wife of 
Phsedimus, one of the nobles of his court. Neither the 
greatness of his rank, nor his promises and his threats, 
being able to make any impression on her virtuous 
heart, he resolved to possess her at whatever price. 
After putting Phgedimus to death, he forced his widow 
to give him her hand. This princess, seeing herself hi 
the arms of a man she had so much reason to detest, re- 
solved to poison him; but she was unfortunately sur- 
prised while preparing the mixture, and Nicocrates 
caused her to be put to the torture, to force from her 
an avowal of her crime. In this dreadful situation she 
remained collected, and declared that her sole object 
had been to compose a philter, that she might be 
still more beloved by her husband. Nicocrates, en- 
chanted with her avowal, asked pardon of his wife for 
his unjust suspicions, and became more fond than ever. 
The danger from which Aretaphila had, by her address, 
extricated herself, only increased her rage and hate 
against Nicocrates. Determined upon revenge, she 
exerted her efforts to please Leander the king's brother, 
and having gained her point, promised to marry him, 
if he would remove the only obstacle to their happiness. 
Leander did not hesitate ; he assassinated Nicocrates, 
and married the queen. But this princess, not more 
partial to him than to his brother, implored the assist- 
ance of Anabus, to rid herself of him ; who, after having 
vanquished Leander, caused him to be tied up in a sack, 
and thrown mto the sea. Aretaphila, then content with 



THE FATE OF OBIZZI. 99 

her vengeance, and always engrossed with thoughts of 
her beloved Phsedimus, lived in seclusion, constantly re- 
fusing the Principality of Cyrene, which the inhabitants 
entreated her to accept. 



THE FATE OF OBIZZI. 

A gentleman of Padua, being greatly enamored 
with the Marchioness d'Obizzi, who was young and 
handsome, found means, in the absence of the marquis, 
to enter her room while she was asleep. We may infer 
that he at first employed all the eloquence of his love to 
touch the heart of the marchioness. But not succeed- 
ing in his wishes, his love degenerated into rage, and in 
the fury of his excitement, he thrust a poignard at this 
virtuous lady. She had an infant son with her, but the 
murderer carried him into an adjoining room, so that he 
could not witness the scene. This gentleman, however, 
was arrested upon the suspicions entertained against 
him, as it was well known that he was enamored with 
the marchioness. The child also told the little he knew, 
and some neighbors deposed that they had seen him in 
that quarter a short time after. A sleeve-button was 
found on the bed, the same as those the culprit wore ; 
but all this gave only strong suspicions, and not positive 
proofs. He underwent the torture several times, but he 
supported it with courage, and constantly declared 
his innocence. After fifteen years' imprisonment his 
friends obtained his liberty. But he did not enjoy it 
long. The young Marquis d'Obizzi could not spare his 
toother's assassin, and shot him in the head. 



100 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 



THE MISFORTUNE OF RACINE. 

Among the number of considerations that influenced 
the celebrated Racine, to cease writing for the stage, 
love is said to be one. This poet was tenderly attached 
to La Champele a famous actress, by whom he had a son. 
She deserted him however for M. de Clermont Ton- 
nerre, which gave rise to the saying " qu'un Tonnerre 
l'avait deracine." Although Racine might have believed 
the inconstancy of women in general and especially of an 
actress, he was very tender on the subject of her infi- 
delity, because he devotedly loved her. This affair 
tended greatly to his detaching himself from the theatre. 



THE BEAUTIFUL PANTHEA. 

After the first victory, which Cyrus, son of Cambyses, 
King of Persia, obtained over the Assyrians and several 
other nations, the prince was told that among his prison- 
ers was a woman of singular beauty. The temptation 
was great to this young and victorious prince, yet Cyrus 
knew how to resist it, fearing that he might be over- 
come. He refused to see the beautiful captive who was 
no less a person than Panthea, the wife of Abratus, king 
of the Suzziana. She was confided to the care of Aras- 
pas, a young Median lord, to whom Cyrus represented 
the danger of the temptation, and made him promise to 
keep strict guard upon his affections. In the meanwhile, 
as civility obliged him to see often the beautiful Panthea, 



A SINGULAR HISTORY. 101 

in order to console and comfort her, Araspes soon found 
himself in love, when it was too late to combat with his 
feelings. He declared his love to Panthea ; but experienc- 
ing the most obstinate repulse, was on the point of using 
violence, to a woman whom he had promised to guard 
and honor. Panthea soon found means to inform Cyrus 
of her danger, and was at once freed from it. Araspes 
was deeply mortified by the kind reproaches of Cyrus, 
and passing over to the Assyrians, as a deserter, under 
pretence of some discontent, rendered Cyrus considerable 
aid. Abratus charmed at the generous conduct of 
Cyrus, toward his wife, became one of his most faithful 
allies, of which he gave noble proofs at the battle of 
Tymbria, where he died fighting for Cyrus. Panthea 
was filled with the deepest sorrow, at the death of her 
husband, and not being able to survive the only man she 
ever loved, killed herself with his sword, and was buried 
in the same tomb. 



A SINGULAR HISTORY. 

Nymph^us, or Nimphie, a young lord of the Isle of 
Melos, in the iEgean Sea, conducted a colony of Me- 
lians into Cario, a province of Asia Minor, where they 
were received into the city of Cyrassa. At first the 
inhabitants were delighted with the new citizens, and 
great harmony appeared to reign between them; but 
jealousy insensibly crept in, and they were desirous of 
ridding themselves of Nymphseus and his companions. 
It was not easy to do this openly on account of their 
number and bravery. It was therefore necessary to 



102 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

have recourse to treason, and they resolved to assas- 
sinate the principal of the Melians at a feast to which 
they invited them. They were persuaded that when the 
chiefs should be no more, they might easily destroy the 
rest. But love came to the assistance of the Melians. 
ISTymphseus, their chief, was fortunate enough to please 
a lady named Caphina, who, solely occupied with the 
danger of her lover, discovered to him the secret of the 
conspiracy. IsTymphaeus, concealing his knowledge, in- 
vited the women to attend the feast, to render the meet- 
ing more cheerful. He then ordered the Melians to go to 
the feast unarmed, but to conceal a dagger in the bosoms 
of their wives, taking care to place each at the side of 
her husband. At a signal agreed upon, the Melians drew 
the weapons which their wives carried, and fell upon the 
Carians and destroyed them, and seized upon the city. 



THE MOTHER OF ALEXANDER. 

Olympia, the mother of Alexander the Great, was di- 
vorced by Philip, King of Macedonia, in consequence of her 
bad conduct. It is in fact believed that this prince was 
not the father of Alexander, and Olympia did not strongly 
affirm that he was. After the divorce, Philip married 
Cleopatra, daughter of Attalus. Olympia conceived a 
jealousy so violent that she was determined to revenge 
herself. It was she who engaged Pausanius to assassinate 
the king. After this murder she took no measures to 
conceal her guilt, and caused the greatest honors to be 
paid to the memory of Pausanius, who had been pun- 



THE LOVE OF TITUS. 103 

ished with death. Cleopatra, the principal cause, was 
not forgotten. Olympia first murdered, upon her bosom, 
Philip's child, and then hung the mother. To conclude, 
this wicked woman consecrated to Apollo the poignard 
that had deprived her husband of his life. At the feast 
of the nuptials of the prince with Cleopatra, Attalus 
having imbibed too much wine, exhorted the Macedo- 
nians to request the gods to grant that Cleopatra might 
give Philip a legitimate heir to his kingdom. Alex- 
ander, who was present, exclaimed with rage, " How, 
rascal, dost thou take me for a bastard!" and at the 
same time threw his cup at his head. The king, who 
was at another table, rose in fury, and advanced, sword 
in hand, towards his son. Happily, his anger and the 
fumes of the wine, caused him to fall, which gave the 
spectators time to prevent any serious consequences. 



THE LOVE OF TITUS. 

It is known that the Emperor Titus was the delight 
of mankind, and that his example is worthy of the emula- 
tion of every king that would merit the affections of his 
people, and render them happy. When Vespasian 
ascended the throne, Titus was married to Marcia 
Fanilla, who gave birth to a daughter at the time of the 
taking of Jerusalem by her husband. This prince, 
covered with laurels in Judea, was not able to resist the 
charms of Berenice, sister of King Agrippa, and he 
resolved to marry her. On his return from Judea he 
brought Berenice to Home, where her great beauty 
gained her many admirers. Although it was dangerous 



104 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

to become the rival of the emperor's son, Cecinna, a con- 
sul, was bold enough to declare his love for Berenice. 
Titus, perceiving that his rival "was not hated by the 
princess, caused Cecinna to be massacred on leaving a 
supper. He endeavored to make it appear that this 
senator had attempted to excite a revolt among the sol- 
diers ; but all knew that the jealousy of Titus was the 
true cause of his death. The prince also added the crime 
of divorcing Marcia Fanilla. But when he ascended the 
throne after the death of Vespasian, virtue gained her 
empire over the mind of Titus. He was inflexible to the 
tears and reproaches of a woman he adored, and sent her 
back into Judea. 



DESPERATION OF LOVE. 

The women greatly distinguished themselves when 
Solomon II. besieged Rhodes. One of them, of Greek 
descent and of singular beauty, who was the mistress of 
the governor of the forts of the city, having learned that 
her lover had been killed, advanced towards the wall, 
holding in her arms two infants who were sons of the 
chevalier. Hurried on by despair, she embraced them 
tenderly, and after making the sign of the cross upon 
these innocents, she cut their throats and threw them 
into the flames. Soon after, she ran to the place where 
her lover had lost his life, and seizing his coat and sword, 
yet stained with his blood, she darted like a meteor into 
the midst of the Turks, where she perished, after fight- 
ing bravely, killing and wounding several of the enemy. 



THE BEAUTIFUL E0XANA. 105 



THE BEAUTIFUL ROXANA. 

Daeius ISTothus, king of Persia, had two sons, one 
named Arsaces, who succeeded him under the name of 
Artaxerxes Mnemon, the other called Cyrus the 
younger, who is known by his revolt against his brother, 
and by the retreat of the ten thousand Greeks under 
Xenophon. Arsaces, before the death of his father, 
married Statira, the daughter of Hidarna, one of the 
greatest nobles in the realm. Darius, to reflect still more 
honor on the family .of Statira, married the princess 
Hamestris, his daughter, to Territenchines, the brother 
of Statira. Territenchines, had still another sister named 
Roxana, whose beauty and address inspired all who 
knew her with admiration. These charms made the 
most lively impression on the heart of her brother, who 
forgetting that he had married the daughter of his king, 
resigned himself entirely to his passion for Roxana. He 
was sensible that Hamestris was an invincible obstacle 
to his designs, but he conceived the cruel design of de- 
stroying his wife. This black project, which he im- 
prudently confided to some favorite, came to the ears of 
Darius. As Territenchines was the powerful governor of 
a large province, the king dared not punish him openly, 
but employed Udiatus, his friend, to assassinate him. 
This murder was followed by the most tragic scenes ; for 
the sons of Udiatus, horrified at the crime of their father, 
took the sons of Territenchines under their protection, 
and revolted. Darius found no trouble in seizing the 
conspirators, and delivered them, with all the family of 
Hidarna, into the hands of Queen Parysatis, the mother 
of Hamestris. That princess set no bounds to her ven- 

5* 



100 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

geance ; the beautiful Roxana was sawed in two, and the 
others perished by different punishments, and it was 
with much difficulty that Arsaces saved Statira his wife, 
whom he adored, from the carnage. The death of Darius 
was followed by new murders. Statira, to revenge the 
death of her family, put an end to Udiatus, the assassin 
of her brother, by the most cruel tortnres. Parysatis 
poisoned this princess. 



A HAPPY RES-ULT. 

Adhad Eddoulat, the second prince or sultan of the 
race of the Bovides, became the most powerful and 
illustrious prince of his age. He united with his estate 
the kingdom of Persia, which was left him by his uncle, 
Adhad Eddoulat, at his death. He took possession of 
the califship of Bagdad, and by an unusual stroke of 
good fortune, found out a treasure of immense value, in 
a strange manner, as we shall relate. Among the 
numerous ladies of the prince, there was one that a 
soldier of his guard had fallen deeply in love with, 
and soon found means to inform her of it without being 
detected. One day, while hunting, he pursued a fox to 
his den, and, in digging around it, he discovered some 
steps that led to a grotto, where he found gold and pre- 
cious stones. He only took a small quantity with him, 
and marked the place that he might return and take 
more whenever he wished. His sweetheart soon found 
that by the presents he made her he must have had 
some good luck. Her curiosity induced her to question 
him, and he foolishly intrusted her with his secret. 



THE LOVE OF SAPPHO. 107 

This girl forgot how much she owed to her lover, and 
revealed the whole to the sultan, in hopes to make her 
fortune, and obtain pardon for allowing a man to enter 
the seraglio. The prince told her that she must go with 
the soldier to the spot where the treasure was concealed, 
and throw on her way bits of paper, to enable her to find 
the place again. The whole was punctually executed, 
and the prince, with several of his favorites, repaired to 
the grotto, where the loving couple had already arrived. 
The soldier was much surprised and frightened at this 
sudden intrusion, and expected nothing short of the loss 
of his life. But the sultan, with much kindness, gave 
him a portion of the treasure, together with the woman 
he loved. 



THE LOVE OF SAPPHO. 

Sappho, who has been so distinguished in all ages for 
her charming poetry, became the victim of that passion, 
which she had so often celebrated in verse. While a 
widow she fell deeply in love with a young man named 
Phaon, and even laid aside all modesty to make the first 
advances ; but she met only with repulse and coldness. 
The young man, to free himself from the importunity of 
this lady, retired into Sicily. Sappho followed him, and 
after having used every means possible to render the 
heart of Phaon sensible, or at least grateful, found no 
other remedy for her grief and hopeless love than that 
of throwing herself from a high rock into the sea. She 
was born in Mytilena, in the Isle of Lebos, in the year 
140, before Christ. 



108 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 



8 C I P I 0. 

Under the empire of Claudius lived Scipio, who had 
married a beautiful woman, named Poppia. Among her 
numerous lovers was reckoned one Pantomine Mnester. 
Unfortunately for Poppia, he had equally the good for- 
tune to please the Empress Messaline, who not chosing 
to divide the favors of her lover with any one, forced 
Poppia to kill herself. Claudius being entirely ignorant 
of what had been done in his name, while at the table 
some days after, asked Scipio why he had not brought 
his wife. This Poppia, who was the handsomest woman 
of her time, was the mother of the famous Poppia, of 
whom we have spoken in the article on Nero. 



THE STORY OF ADELAIDE. 

If beauty is to be considered as a precious gift to wo- 
man, there are also many instances when it has been the 
cause of the most wicked crimes being committed, and 
there are but few examples when true happiness has been 
procured by it. Adelaide, the daughter of Raoul II., king 
of Burgundy, experienced most keenly the truth of this 
assertion. Hughes, who from a mere king of Aries, had 
ascended to the crown of Italy, demanded and obtained 
Adelaide for Lothaire, his son. She was conducted to 
the court of Hughes, although Lothaire was still too 
young to consummate this marriage. Hughes could 
not withstand the charms of the wife of his son, and he 



THE STORY OF ADELAIDE. 100 

found no great difficulty in corrupting one whose inno- 
cence was so entirely in his power. History does not 
inform us whether that prince, inured to crime at so 
early an age, reformed in after years. We only know 
that, after the death of Lothaire, who left no heirs, Ber- 
enger II., who made himself proclaimed King of Italy, 
asked Adelaide in marriage, for his son Adelbert, who 
shared with him all the honors of royalty. This propo- 
sal was rejected with much haughtiness, and the princess" 
was besieged in Pavia. The town was taken, and she 
fell into the hands of Berenger, who cruelly avenged 
her refusal by extorting from her unlawful favors. She 
was confined in the castle of Garda, with no attend- 
ants but a maid and a priest. The love of liberty ena- 
bled Adelaide to invent the means of escaping from her 
prison, with her two companions. While finding her 
way through serpentine roads, and in the absence of the 
chaplain, she was met by another priest. Thinking that 
he might take advantage of her helpless condition, he 
attempted violence, but she resisted bravely, and escaped 
from her perilous situation by abandoning her maid to 
the priest. At last the travellers arrived at the Castle 
of Canoffe. 

Berenger, fearing the princess might escape and claim 
the kingdom of Italy, which he had usurped, immediately 
besieged Canoffe. The danger was great and urgent, 
and Adelaide dreaded nothing more than to fall into the 
hands of a man who had so little respect for her virtue. 
She therefore called to her assistance Othon, king of 
Germania, and offered him her hand and the kingdom 
of Italy. Ambition, and the beauty of the princess, 
decided Othon. He marched against Berenger, and 
obliged him to raise the seige. Othon imagined that 



110 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

through gratitude, Adelaide would not have the 
courage to refuse him any favors. But she opposed so 
many obstacles to his wishes, that he found that to 
possess her he must first marry her. That marriage pro- 
cured Othon the kingdom of Italy. Some time after, 
this prince being called by the pope, John XII., and the 
grandson of the celebrated Marozia, took possession of 
the empire. 



VICE DISCLOSED BY LOVE. 

Love was the cause of the discovery made at Rome of 
the infamous society of the Bacchanalians. Thus we find 
it related in history : A young man, the son of a Roman 
knight, and whose name was iEbutius, lost his father at 
a very tender age, and also lost too soon the tutors who 
had been given him. By these means Titus Sempronius 
Rutilus, his step-father, had the whole control of his large 
estate. He misused the trust, and when the time came 
to render his accounts, he in concert with the mother of 
JEbutius, took the resolution of destroying the son-in-law. 
Durania, his mother, reminded her husband that during 
her last illness she promised to initiate him into the 
mysteries of Bacchus, and that in the course of two days 
she would take him to the Bacchanals. iEbutius was in 
love with a beautiful woman, called Hispala Siscennia, 
Avho having acquired much wealth by her crimes, had 
entirely renounced her wicked life. As she was sincerely 
attached to the young iEbutius, it afforded her much 
pleasure to contribute to his wants, which were often 
pressing. iEbutius soon imparted to his mistress the 



VICE DISCLOSED BY LOVE. Ill 

project of his mother. What was his surprise when he 
saw Hispala employ all her prayers and tears to dissuade 
him from being initiated into the mysteries of Bacchus. 
However, as he seemed averse to yield to her prayers, 
she confessed to him, that during her servitude she had 
accompanied her mistress to the assembly of Bacchanali- 
ans, and that it was the sanctuary of the most scandalous 
crimes, that almost all the young men who were admit- 
ted, died before the age of twenty, in a most strange 
manner. This recital, accompanied with many tears, 
made a deep impression upon the mind of iEbutius. On 
his return to his home, he informed his mother that he 
would not go to the Bacchanalian assembly ; but did not 
disclose his reason. Durania then threw aside the mask, 
and turned her son from the paternal home. He took 
refuge with an aunt, and related to her the cause of his 
disgrace. She advised her nephew to inform the con- 
sul what he had heard of the murders and infamies 
committed in the nocturnal assembly, which were held in 
the forest of Stimula. The consul, whose name was 
Spurius Posthumius Albinus, was seized with horror at 
this disclosure, and being desirous of finding out all the 
particulars, he sent for Hispala, at the house of Sulpicia, 
his mother-in-law. There it was that he learned all the 
minutiae of those infamous meetings, where all modesty 
was thrown aside, and where the most decent were 
sure to lose their lives. Hispala concluded her account 
by naming several men and women of the highest dis- 
tinction, who were members. After taking proper 
measures to prevent harm to Hispala and iEbutius, the 
consul reported to the senate all that he had heard of 
those criminal meetings. Pudicity had always been a 
cherished virtue by the Romans, and those venerable 



112 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

" patres conscripti " heard with horror the news of the 
disorders which reigned in the republic. By order of 
the senate and people, the most exact inquiry was made 
to' find out the guilty. Most of them were put to death, 
and this abominable set were entirely destroyed both in 
Rome and its environs. Hispala and ^Ebutius both 
received one hundred thousand brass asses as a reward. 
Hispala received all the privileges of a free woman, with 
the permission of choosing a husband from any rank she 
pleased. History does not inform us whether iEbutius 
married his mistress. 



AN UNHAPPY LOYE. 

John Valdes, a young Spaniard, who came to Rome 
under the pontificate of Jules II., had the art of procur- 
ing the esteem and friendship of the great, and by this 
means obtained rich benefices ; but Love destroyed his 
good fortune. He saw and loved the daughter of a 
senator, who was both virtuous and beautiful, and after 
several useless attempts to corrupt her, Valdes consented 
to marriage. Blinded by the violence of his passion, 
he spoke publicly of his marriage, and even signed the 
contract. The appointed time was at hand, when his 
future father-in-law being informed that Yaldes had 
entered into holy orders, caused him to be confined at the 
Castle Saint Arge. Valdes was so frightened at this 
affair that he promised to resign all benefices if the pope 
would permit him to marry his mistress, even without 
any portion. He was bailed out on this^promise. While 
they were obtaining for him the dispensation, his regret 



A COMIC AFFAIR A TERRIBLE JUSTICE. 113 

at resigning so much for a woman unsettled his brain, 
and he threw himself from the top of a house. His mis- 
tress, who was truly attached to him, resolved not to 
survive. After the excess of despair was a little quieted 
she retired from the world and became a nun. 



A COMIC AFFAIR. 

A jealous wife, residing in the environs of Marje- 
vols, learning, one Sunday in the carnival, that her hus- 
band was to dance at the house of several girls, awaited 
his return at his own house, greatly agitated by the vio- 
lence of her feelings. On seeing him, she pretended to 
swoon, and her son thinking her dead, uttered such 
cries of grief as soon brought all the neighbors to their 
assistance. The fainting fit did not last long, and, on re- 
covering, she exclaimed that her husband had poisoned 
her. The husband proposed to call in a surgeon, to prove 
the fact. At this suggestion every one burst into laugh- 
ter, the wife regained her good humor, and was, at least 
for the time, reconciled to her husband. 



A TERRIBLE JUSTICE. 

In the time of the crusade, which was determined 
upon after the fourth council of Latran, in 1215, An- 
drew, king of Hungary, was one of the first who went 
over to the Holy Land, in order to carry assistance to 
the Christians of that country. As he left his kingdom, 



114 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

he trusted the administration of it to the palatine of 
Hungary, whose name was Banchanus, and recom- 
mended him, above all things, to do strict justice to 
every one, without any regard to either rank or fortune. 
Banchanus's wife, a woman of the greatest beauty, 
anxious to soothe the melancholy of the queen, be- 
stowed upon her the greatest attention. The Count 
of Moravia, who was the queen's own brother, coming 
to Hungary under these circumstances, was received 
with all possible marks of distinction, and it was the 
endeavor of every one to amuse him with balls and 
assemblies. It was amidst those entertainments that this 
prince fell in love with the regent's wife. It was not 
long before he made a confession of his passion, and 
employed all the means which the most ardent love can 
inspire to win the heart of that lady. All his attempts 
were vain, and Banchanus's wife, followed with so close 
a pursuit, pretended indisposition for some time, that she 
might keep away from court. This obstinate repulse 
only increased and irritated the prince's desires. A 
gloomy melancholy, the usual effect of a great passion, 
took possession of his mind, and, to ease his soul, he was 
obliged to intrust it to the queen, his sister. This 
princess took rather too much interest in her brother's 
distress of heart, and was weak enough to favor his 
criminal intentions. In order to succeed better, the 
count affected a more respectful behavior towards his 
mistress ; and her fears being removed by the alteration 
of his conduct, she took less precaution ; and one day, 
having accompanied the queen to a remote place of her 
apartment, she was abandoned to the count, who was 
there, and who cruelly abused the opportunity. Al- 
though the regent's wife was enraged in her soul, she 



A TERRIBLE JUSTICE. 115 

kept the secret of this adventure for some time. But 
one day, seeing her husband disposed to caress her with 
his usual tenderness, she exclaimed, "Approach me 
not," at the same time pouring out a flood of tears, 
" and leave a woman who is no longer worthy of your 
pure embraces ! A villain, full of boldness, has been 
rash enough to abuse me ; and the queen, his sister, her- 
self delivered me into his power. I should have pun- 
ished myself for this crime, did not my religion forbid 
my attempting to take my life. I am but too guilty 
since I have lost my honor, and I beg of you my death, 
that I may no longer survive my shame and disgrace." 

Banchanus, after having consoled his wife, considered 
how it was best to revenge this affront. The first vic- 
tim should have been the Count of Moravia, but he had 
prudently left the kingdom. Banchanus, therefore, re- 
paired to the palace of the queen, and asked her to 
retire to a closet with him, in order to read some letters 
he had just received. When alone with her, he re- 
proached her with great bitterness of her crime, and 
stabbed her. He himself informed the court of what 
he had done. Then, taking the road to Constantinople, 
he met there the king, Andrew, and said to him — 

" Mighty Lord, in giving me your last commands, as 
you were starting for Hungary, you charged me to 
administer justice with the strictest rigors to your sub- 
jects, without any regard to rank or fortune. That I 
have done. I have killed the queen, your wife, who had 
ruined mine ; and far from seeking my own safety by a 
shameful flight, I bring you my head. Dispose as you 
like of my life ; but remember, that by my life or my 
death, your people will judge of your equity, and whether 
I am innocent or guilty." 



116 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

This example of bravery was without parallel. The 
king thus replied : " If you have spoken truly, go back 
to Hungary, continue to administer justice to my sub- 
jects with the same severity as you did to yourself. 
My stay in the Holy Land will not be long, and on my 
return, I shall judge for myself whether your action is 
worthy of praise or punishment." The prince did not 
remain long in Palestine, much to the detriment of the 
Christians, to whose aid he had come. The action of 
Banchanus had made on him a terrible impression, and 
immediately on his return home, he examined for himself 
all the circumstances, and was equitable enough to acquit 
Banchanus. 



AN ARMENIAN. 

A young Turkish nobleman had conceived a violent 
passion for an Armenian woman of great beauty. Not 
succeeding in his attempts to dishonor her husband, he 
threatened to destroy both if she did not yield. This 
woman, terrified at this vengeance, agreed to meet the 
Turk at her house on a day when her husband would be 
absent. The Turk was promptly at the appointed place, 
not forgetting, however, to carry with him a pair of pis- 
tols and a cutlass for his safety. The Armenian shed 
many tears to dissuade him from his purpose, but her 
grief only increased her charms, and inflamed still more 
the wicked Turk. Fortunately the husband of the wo- 
man returned, and with the assistance of his wife over- 
came the Turk, and killed him. An Armenian priest 
was the only person who was privy to this affair ; and 
as he was of a most avaricious disposition, he threatened 



BLANCHE. 117 

his penitents to reveal their crimes if they did not lend 
him a certain sum of money. They complied, and he 
renewed his demands so frequently that they were at last 
reduced to beggary, and could lend no more. He com- 
pleted his infamy by informing the father of the young 
Turk of the murder of his son. The father, who held 
a high seat under government, carried his complaints to 
the grand vizier, and declared to him at the same time 
that his knowledge came from the priest to whom the 
murderers of his son had gone to confession. After a 
thorough investigation of the matter, the priest was 
found guilty, for having disclosed the secret revealed to 
him ; and the true motive which induced this murder 
being apparent, the culprits were discharged. The 
priest was condemned to be burnt alive in the public 
place. 



BLANCHE. 

Blanche, Queen of France, was the queen of Louis 
VIII. and mother to Saint Louis. We read in history 
that this beautiful princess, made a deep impression 
upon the heart of Thibault V., Count of Champaign. 
The songs which he wrote to her are still to be read on 
the walls of several of his castles; indeed, everything 
proves that Thibault was passionately in love with this 
queen, but was not successful in his devotions. It is said 
that this love was kindled in the heart of Thibault before 
the death of Louis VIII., and that he showed symptoms 
of jealousy and insulted Thibault. The king was 
poisoned, but we are unable to say whether Thibault 
committed the deed, although he was accused of it. 



118 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

But that death did not procure him much more happi- 
ness, for Blanche never listened to his loving tale, except 
when the interest of the state required it. Her enemies, 
however, circulated one report detrimental to her repu- 
tation, but it is admitted to have been without 
foundation. The queen, they say, had a great regard for 
the Roman cardinal, and the students of the University 
.published songs tending to blacken the queen's reputa- 
tion, as well as that of the cardinal who advised her. 
Thibault, enraged to see himself despised, and still more 
for having a rival, threw himself on the side of the party 
who were trying to deprive Blanche of the regency. It 
became, therefore, highly important for the queen to de- 
tach the Count of Champaign from this powerful league. 
A flattering word from her mouth was sufficient to bring 
him in perfect submission at her feet. The confederates 
whom Thibault had forsaken used every means to make 
him return. The Duke of Brittany sent him word that 
he would give hhn in marriage his daughter Isabella, if 
he would but resume the interests of the league. The 
offer was a brilliant one, and the day was appointed for 
the nuptials, the ceremony to be performed at the 
monastery of Valsecru, near Chateau Thierry. The 
regent-queen, who was informed of all this, and was sen- 
sible how disastrous such a union would be to her king- 
dom, laid aside her dignity, and repaired to Thibault. 
By a slight hope which she gave to his passion she 
changed his resolution, for an obliging word or loving 
glance would put poor Thibault completely at her com- 
mand. This man constantly hoped that he should 
attain the happiness he so eagerly coveted, until at 
last his expectations were suddenly brought to an end. 
The young Count of Artois, son of Blanche, angry at the 



THE STORY OF ANNE BOLEYN. 119 

boldness of the Count of Champaign, ordered one of his 
officers to throw in his face a soft cheese. Thibault of 
course could not remain at court after such an affront. 
To increase his misfortunes, the confederate princes, who 
were still more enraged against the count, since his last 
recantation, entered the territories of Champaign, and 
put everything there to fire and sword. The cause of 
this object was, they say, to revenge the death of Louis 
VIII., whom they accused Thibault of having poisoned. 
The accusation was groundless, as the king marched 
against the rebels, and obliged them to retire. A short 
time after, the count having become King of Navarre, 
took up arms against the king. He was soon obliged to 
yield and accept the conditions they imposed upon him. 
Queen Blanche, with whom he had an interview after 
that treaty, reproached him most strongly with his in- 
gratitude, to which he replied with a deep sigh, "Madam, 
my heart, my body and all that I have are at your com- 
mand, and there is nothing too great for me to do for 
you, never, if it please God, will I go against you or 
yours." This protestation from his mouth animated him 
so much that he grew rather too presumptuous, and was 
ordered to withdraw from court. 



THE STORY OF ANNE BOLEYN. 

It is well known that the schism which separated 
England from the Roman church, was owing to the love 
of Henry VIII. for Anne Boleyn. The several historians 
vary greatly in their account of the life of thi:^ girl, whose 
rise and misfortunes have made her of such celebrity. 



120 ' ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Bullen, and of 

Joanna Clinston, daughter of Sir Clinston, Baronet. 

Some writers affirm that king Henry VIII., being deeply- 
enamored with the wife of Sir Thomas Bullen, sent that 
nobleman on an embassy to France, that he might be 
less constrained in his passion, and that it was during the 
absence of the husband that the celebrated Anne Boleyn 
was born. Those writers also maintain that Henry had 
also the same sentiments of love for Anne's eldest sister. 
This Anne, while things were thus going on, was forming 
herself so well, that even at the age of fifteen, following 
the examples of her family, gave herself up to both the 
steward and chaplain of her father. Her behavior in 
France was such that she received the most vulgar nick- 
names. But when she returned to England, she behaved 
with so much prudence, as to induce Henry to make her 
his wife. This story of the early irregularities of Anne, 
which seems dictated by hatred, is contradicted by 
most historians, except that part which relates to her 
living in France, where she did go in company with 
Mary, queen of Louis XII., and where she served as 
maid of honor to Queen Claudia, and afterwards to the 
Duchess of Alencon. They, however, all agree that 
Anne Boleyn united with her personal graces the highest 
qualities of mind. As she was by her birth entitled to 
appear at court, she was soon admitted among the 
queen's maids of honor. She had a conversation with 
the king, and inspired him with the most violent love. 
She succeeded in having her father made a lord. But 
it soon became evident that her true character had es- 
caped the penetration of the most subtle of her courtiers. 
She was found to be deep and ambitious. She en- 
couraged the love of the king by her gay and fawuing 



THE STORY OF ANNE BOLETN. 121 

manners, and when lie attempted to declare his passion 
for her, she affected sentiments of such elevated purity 
as was capable of awing a man much less in love than 
Henry. When she had excited him to the utmost extent, 
she would tell him that as she could never be his wife, 
she would not be his mistress. The king, however, was 
determined upon sharing his throne with her. But it 
was a difficult matter to obtain a divorce from the virtu- 
ous Catherine, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, and 
for eighteen years his faithful wife, This princess was 
the widow of Prince Arthur, and with a dispensation 
of Pope Julius II. she afterwards married his brother 
Henry. Some say that Henry VII. compelled his son to 
this union ; but supposing that to have been the case, it 
could no longer be alleged as an excuse for Henry VIII., 
as he had upon his accession to the throne taken the 
advice of his council, who upon mature deliberation de- 
cided upon Catherine remaining his wife, and he lived 
contentedly with her for many years without feeling the 
least remorse. It is true that he did not then love Anne 
Boleyn ; and it was after his passion for her that he be- 
gan to reproach himself for having married his bro- 
ther's widow. He solicited Pope Clement VII. to declare 
his marriage contrary to both divine and human laws ; 
and to assist in turning the opinion and judgment of the 
pontiff, he presented him the decisions of some divines, 
who had been bribed for the purpose. Cardinal Wolsey, 
the great favorite of the king and who ruled the king- 
dom, entered at first into the wishes of Henry. But 
he only meant to procure him a divorce, as he found an 
opportunity thus of avenging himself upon the emperor, 
because he had not made him pope as he had promised. 
As soon as Wolsey was informed that Anne Boleyn was 

6 



122 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

the object of that divorce, he sent word to the pope to re- 
fute the sentence which was solicited from him, as Anne 
Boleyn was suspected ot being favorable to the errors of 
Luther. It was upon this information that the Cardinal 
Campegi, intrusted with the commission of publishing 
the so much wished for bull, committed it to the flames 
by order of the pope, and the affair was removed to 
Rome, which was the cause of Wolsey's disgrace. This 
haughty minister, who had seen himself treated with 
almost the respect due a king, and had received the 
most flattering marks of honor from both the Emperor 
Charles Y. and Francis I., who absolutely governed the 
kingdom of Great Britain, and saw the greatest noble- 
men crawling at his feet — this prelate, in fine, who was 
possessed of immense Avealth, was stripped in a moment 
as it were by a woman, of all his offices, estates, riches 
and power. We are induced to believe there can be 
no doubt that Anne Boleyn contributed greatly to his 
disgrace, as the following letter written to him in the 
place of his exile will show. 

"My Loed — 

" However sensible a man you are thought to be, 
you are, nevertheless, much blamed by all for having 
merited the hatred of a king who had raised you to the 
highest position possible. I cannot conceive, and the 
king still less than I, that having assured us with so 
many promises of divorce, you should repent your de- 
sign, and try to prevent a conclusion of it. What is 
the cause of such behavior ? You forsook the queen to 
favor my views, and after having given me the greatest 
marks of your affection, you forsake my interest to re- 
assume those of the queen. I must confess that I have 



THE STORY OF ANNE BOLEYN. 123 

placed too much confidence in you, and find myself 
deceived. But in future I will trust only to Heaven, 
and the love of my dear king, who alone can rectify 
the wrongs you have done me, and place me in that 
happy position that God will protect, and that the king 
wishes me to occupy. The injury you have done me 
has caused me the deepest sorrow ; but I feel indignant 
at the thought that I have been betrayed by a man who 
was interested in me for no other purpose than to find 
out the secrets of my heart. I confess, that believing 
you to be sincere, I was too hasty in disclosing them 
to you. The remembrance of this will moderate my 
revengeful feelings towards you, as I cannot forget I was 
once your servant. 

"Anne Boleyn." 

Henry, however, did not abandon his project ; and it 
is probable he might have succeeded in his solicitations 
for a divorce, had not Queen Catherine been the aunt 
of the Emperor Charles V. That powerful prince pre- 
vented the pope from yielding to the wishes of the king. 
Henry conferred upon Anne Boleyn the title of Mar- 
chioness of Pembroke, which gave her precedence over 
the countess. To this honor he added a magnificent 
palace, richly furnished, and a more brilliant household 
than that of the royal princess. 

Meanwhile, the unfortunate, but virtuous Catherine 
was exiled from court, forsaken by every one, because she 
was deprived of authority, and reduced to seek consola- 
tions in her tears and her virtue. Rebuked and fatigued 
with the constant delays and evasions of the court of 
Rome, Henry had the important question decided by 
Thomas Cranmer, whom he had just invested with the 



124 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

archbishopric of Canterbury, and married Anne Boleyn. 
This act irritated the pope beyond measure, and, after 
many delays, the sovereign pontiff issued a bull of ex- 
communication against Henry. Henry, however, re- 
solved to show the pope how little he cared for this 
act, and so declared himself absolute chief of the church 
and clergy in his kingdom, and seized upon all their 
estates and revenues. The Bishop Fisher and the cele- 
brated Chancellor Morris, who refused to acquiesce in 
such an innovation, were decapitated. 

Things were in this situation, when Anne Boleyn pre- 
sented herself in tears before Henry, and told him that 
it was a source of much affliction to her to foresee that 
the Princess Mary, daughter of Catherine, should suc- 
ceed to the throne in preference of Elizabeth, her 
daughter. Henry, softened by the tears of his adored 
wife, promised not only to disinherit Mary, but even to 
put her to death. Fortunately, however, this prince 
spared the life of Mary, but proclaimed throughout his 
kingdom an act that declared Mary incapable of suc- 
ceeding to the crown, and with great pomp, Elizabeth 
was proclaimed his lawful heiress. Love, which had 
done so much for Anne Boleyn, seemed to have made 
her ascend the throne only to render her fall more won- 
derful. There was at that time, among the ladies of 
honor of the queen, a young person of rare merit and 
beauty, named Jane Seymour. Her charms made a 
deep impression on the heart of Henry, who was too 
weak to resist it, and who, perhaps, was already tired 
of Queen Anne. Engrossed with this new passion, he 
gave a favorable ear to all the speeches that tended to 
injure the character of that princess. Anne Boleyn 
gave some occasion for these suspicions, for she was sus- 



THE STOEY OF ANNE BOLEYN. 125 

pected of being too familiar with several lords. The 
king entertained no doubt of her guilt, and accused her 
in the House of Peers ; and she was then confined a 
close prisoner. It was in that melancholy situation that 
the following letter was penned : 

" Sie— 

" The displeasure of your grace, and my impri- 
sonment, are things so strange to me that I know 
not how to write or excuse myself. But let not 
your grace even imagine that your poor wife will ever 
consent to acknowledge a fault that I am innocent of. 
Never had a prince a more loyal wife, in all true affec- 
tion and duty, than you have had in Anne Boleyn. 
Never have I in my exaltation forgotten that I might 
find such a change as this, knowing that my preferment 
was only founded on your grace's fancy. You have 
chosen me from a low estate to be your queen and com- 
panion — far beyond my desert or desire. If, then, you 
have found me worthy of such honor, let not any high 
fancy or bad counsel of mine enemies withdraw your 
princely favor from me. Neither let that unworthy 
stain of a disloyal heart towards your grace ever cast so 
foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the infant 
princess, your daughter. Try me, good king, and let 
not my sworn enemies sit as my judges and accusers. 
Yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truth fears no 
shame ; then shall you see either my innocence cleared, 
the ignominy and slander of the world dropped, or my 
guilt openly declared. But if you have already deter- 
mined that not only my death, but an infamous slander, 
will bring you the enjoyment of your desired happiness, 
then I desire of God that he will pardon your great sin, 



126 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

and also those of my enemies, and that he will not call 
you to a strict account of your cruel conduct towards 
me, at his judgment seat, where both you and myself 
must shortly appear. My last and only request shall be 
that I alone may suffer your displeasure, and that it may 
not extend to those innocent men who are imprisoned 
for my sake. If ever I have found favor in your sight — 
if ever the name of Anne Boleyn has been pleasing 
tc your ears — then grant me this request, and I will 
not trouble your grace any further. With my earnest 
prayers to the Trinity, to have your grace in His good 
keeping, and to direct you in all your actions. From 
my doleful prison in the Tower, this 6th of May, 1536. 
" Your most loyal, 

" And ever faithful wife, 

"Anne Boleyn." 

This letter made no impression upon the heart of 
Henry, his resolution was irrevocably taken, and knowing 
that he could not marry Jane Seymour, while Anne was 
living, he resolved upon the death of the latter. On the 
depositions of some witnesses, the parliament condemned 
the queen to lose her head. Mr. Hume seems to enter- 
tain no doubt of the innocence of Anne Boleyn. Some 
historians affirm that she confessed that she had con- 
tracted some engagements with Percy, but they add 
that having been condemned to be burnt alive, she was 
given to understand that this confession would only 
change her sentence to that of being beheaded. When 
the judgment was read to her she evinced a remarkable 
degree of courage and composure. Before she ascended 
the scaffold she sent her last message to the king, to 
thank him for the care he still took to contribute to her 



LOVE IK THE BREAST OF AN OLD MAN. 127 

further elevation ; for said she, " From being a mere 
gentlewoman, you made me a marchioness, from a mar- 
chioness a queen, and from a queen you wish now to make 
me a saint." This unfortunate queen had the grief to 
learn before she died, that all those who had been impri- 
soned as her accomplices were put to death. 



LOVE IN THE BREAST OF AN OLD MAN. 

Ferdinand, surnamed the Catholic, and Isabella, his 
queen, had been favored by fortune in all their under- 
takings. They reigned over the several kingdoms of 
Aragon, Castile and Leon. But the conquest of the 
kingdom of Granada, which the Moors were still in pos- 
session of, nattered still their ambition. Love, which 
had placed them on the throne of Castile, to the detri- 
ment of the lawful heiress, made again the way easy for 
them to take the kingdom so much wished for. Albo- 
hacen reigned over Granada. A numerous posterity 
gave him reason to hope that the succession would 
quietly descend to his heirs ; but he did not see the mis- 
fortunes which his own passions were bringing upon him. 
When quite advanced in years he became passionately in 
love with a young Christian girl, whose beauty had 
given her the name of Zoraea, which in the Arabic lan- 
guage means " Morning Star." This girl, sacrificing to 
her ambition the God she adored, consented to the wishes 
of the king on condition that he would marry her. 
Albohacen was too much in love to refuse anything. He 
divorced his lawful queen, who was a near relative, and 
married Zoraea. This woman, taking advantage of the 



128 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

empire which youth and beauty generally give over an 
enamored old man, soon demanded greater sacrifices. 
She insisted upon the children of the first wife being put 
to death, that the crown might descend to her own, 
Love so blinded Albohacen that it made him smother in 
his breast all paternal tenderness, and to satisfy the insa- 
tiable ambition of the imperious Zoraea, he ordered his 
children to be massacred. Two, however, escaped from 
the slaughter through the skill of their mother, and took 
refuge at Cadiz. Such barbarous conduct stirred up 
fury and anger among the subjects of Granada. They 
took the eldest and placed him upon the throne. In vain 
did Albohacen attempt to enter the city — he saw himself 
dethroned, and obliged to retire to some little town. All 
those divisions which increased till after the death of 
Albohacen, were a blessing to Ferdinand and Isabella, 
who were not idle in making the most of them. 



RICHELIEU AND BUCKINGHAM. 

Queen Ann of Austria, the wife of Louis XIII., was 
very unhappy during the life of the king, and she expe- 
rienced the most cruel persecutions. The visit which 
the chancellor paid her at the Val-de-Grace is, perhaps, 
unexampled in history, on account of the circumstances 
that attended it; for her strong box and her presses 
were all forced open and searched ; and they even went 
as far as to search her pockets and look under her 
neck-kerchief. Her most faithful servants were taken 
away from her — some cast into jail and others ill-used. 
The king scarcely dared to speak with her, and it was to 



RICHELIEU AND BUCKINGHAM. 129 

a mere chance that Louis XIV. owed his birth. If we 
are to believe the annals of the times, those persecutions 
against a queen, the beauty, graces, and sweetness of 
whose temper were worthy a happier fate, were instigated 
by love. The Cardinal Richelieu, that great minister, 
had been audacious enough to cast a wishful eye on the 
queen, from whom his passion met no return but con- 
tempt. It was therefore to avenge himself of that rebuke 
that he thus persecuted her. To such a cause are we to 
attribute the divisions which arose at that period between 
France and England, and which occasioned so much 
bloodshed. The Duke of Buckingham, who ruled over 
Great Britain, while Richelieu did the same in France, 
came into the latter kingdom on the occasion of his mas- 
ter's marriage. He was no less daring than the cardinal, 
and he fell in love with the queen, and had the boldness 
to tell her so in a long interview which he had with her. 
The Marchioness de Lencey, lady of honor, tired of the 
long conversation, said to him in a severe tone, " Hold 
your tongue, sir, the Queen of France is not to be spoken 
to in that strain." It is said that when taking leave of 
the queen he kissed her gown and shed some tears. It is 
further said that the king was informed of all that had 
transpired during his absence, and discharged some of 
the queen's attendants from her service. The cardinal, 
who was also informed of all this, conceived the greatest 
jealousy, and soon made his rival feel the effects of it. 
The duke having caused himself to be sent on a second 
embassy to France, merely to see the queen, was forbid- 
den to set his foot into the kingdom. Such is the ver- 
sion given us by an Italian author. Richelieu and 
Buckingham were pitted one against another for reasons 
which were kept a secret, because they were disgraceful 



- ">0 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

in themselves, and afterwards the people had to pay out 
of their pockets for the follies and quarrels of these two 
rivals. Mr. Hume ascribes the rupture between England 
and France to the rivalship of these two ministers. The 
cardinal's jealousy was all the stronger as he knew the 
duke had been received with some favor, for that histo- 
rian maintains that the apparent merit of the duke had 
made some impression on the queen, and that she per- 
mitted herself at least, " that attachment of the soul, which 
conceals so many dangers under a delicious surface." 
However, the duke having sworn he would see the queen 
in spite of all the power in France, he excited a war, the 
consequences of which were not of much credit, and he 
returned to England dishonored and more hated than 
ever. Another author asserts that while the Cardinal 
Richelieu was besieging La Rochelle, the Rochellese sent 
to England for new assistance, and that the Duke of 
Buckingham, animated with all the stimulus of love and 
jealousy, armed quickly a considerable fleet, which might 
have occasioned the ruin of the cardinal. They say that 
in this crisis they compelled the queen to write to the 
duke, and beg him to suspend his armament, and to this 
letter was owed the taking of La Rochelle. 



TIDIUS LABEO. 

Tidius Labeo was dishonored by Vestlia his wife, and 
b.«a.& still the greater misfortune of being publicly repri- 
manded on that account. It was the duty of the married 
men cf Rome, either to give up their guilty wives to the 
judges, or vo punish them themselves. Tidius had done 



URRAQUE. 131 

neither, but the vileness of this woman was so great that 
to avoid condemnation, she went to the ^Edile, and there 
inscribed her name amongst the abandoned women. 
This did not, however, save her, and she was condemned 
to banishment in the Isle of Seriphus. Tidius was repri- 
manded by the judges, for having neglected to complain 
against his wife. It was on this occasion that the senate 
made a decree " forbidding women whose fathers, grand- 
fathers, or husbands, might have been Roman knights, 
to go to the iEdiles, to devote themselves to public 
libertinism." 



URRAQUE. 

Urraque, or Urraca, daughter of Alphonso VI., King 
of Leon, of Castile, and of Toledo, inherited all these 
kingdoms at the death of her father. She espoused, for 
her second husband, Don Alphonso, king of Aragon and 
of Navarre. She was little scrupulous of her conduct, 
and knew no other laws than those of her pleasure, and 
she gave herself up to them without the least control. 
Alphonso was aware of this before marrying her, but she 
brought him in dower several valuable kingdoms. Soon 
after this marriage, the conduct of Urraque obliged 
Alphonso to confine her. She succeeded, by many 
promises of amendment, in regaining her liberty, but her 
behavior was even worse than before, and she was im- 
prisoned a second time. The prelates then declared tli8 
carriage of Urraque null, and proclaimed her son 
Alphonso, king. She was ignominiously divorced by 
King Alphonso, who restored her liberty. At length, 



132 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

arms were taken, and the army of the queen was routed 
by her husband near Candespina, and Don Gomez, one 
of her favorites, was killed. After this victory, Alphonso 
marched against the young king, and vanquished him. 
To resist the conqueror they reconciled Urraque with 
her son, but their union was not of long duration ; the 
princess passionately loved Don Pedro de Lara, who 
governed the people with great tyranny ; the Castillians 
compelled this favorite to fly the kingdom and Urraque 
then found herself obliged to resign her kingdoms in 
favor of her son, and to lead a private life. This princess 
rendered herself so odious, that when the ambassadors 
of France went to demand in marriage for their master 
one of the daughters of Alphonso IX., they chose 
Blanche, who had the least beauty, because her sister 
was named Urraque. The princess who has been the 
subject of this article died in 1125. 



A KING DEFIED. 

It is known, that on the revolt of the Corsicans, there 
came to their isle, a man named Theodore Baron de 
ISTeuhoff. He was an adventurer who had frequented 
the different courts of Europe, and who had art enough 
to induce the rebels to elect him their king. While en- 
joying this high degree of elevation, he became enam- 
ored of a woman who was the sister of one of his 
guards. This girl listened with pleasure to the vows of 
her sovereign, but the brother, considering it no honor 
to have his sister the mistress of a king, expostulated 
rather severely with her upon it, even in the house of 



THE ABBOT DE EANCE. 133 

the prince. Theodore, piqued and incensed at what he 
considered a want of respect, ordered him to be seized 
and hung, hut no one obeying the command, he resolved 
to punish this subject himself. The young man, how- 
ever, armed with a chair, and assisted by his comrades, 
obliged Theodore to conceal himself till the storm was 
passed. 



THE ABBOT DE RANCE. 

Don Armand, John le Bouthilier de Ranee, regular 
abbot, reformer of the Maison Dieu Notre Dame de la 
Trappe, was born in ^Paris in 1626. His family was 
originally of Brittany and bore the name of Bouthilier, 
from several ancestors of the abbot having held the office 
of cup-bearer to the dukes of Brittany. The abbot had 
for his godfather tha Cardinal de Richelieu, who, if we 
believe some very authentic memoirs, was, perhaps, a 
nearer relation. Possessed of vast wealth by the death 
of one of his brothers, he became enamored of the Duch- 
ess de Montbason. This ardent passion drew him from 
all his former pleasures, to which he was so much given 
up. Some circumstances preventing his seeing the 
duchess for a few days, he hastened to her house, and 
found she had just expired with the small pox. Desirous 
of seeing the adored object of his heart, he had the mel- 
ancholy curiosity to look at her, and what a frightful 
object did he behold ! Those features, once so beautiful, 
were now completely disfigured by her disease, and pre- 
sented the most revolting appearance. This disfigured 
corpse effected such a revolution in the mind of the 



134 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

Abbot -de Ranee, that lie determined from that moment 
to renounce the world. Having bequeathed his fortune 
to the Hotel-Dieu and Hopital, he resigned three abbeys 
and two priories, and only preserved that of La Trappe, 
where he established the severe reform which still exists. 
He died in 1700. 



A SLAVE'S SON MADE RING BY LOYE. 

Pheaatus, the fourth of that name, king of the 
Parthians, reigned when Augustus, after the defeat and 
death of Mark Antony, was sole master of the universe. 
He feared that this prince, who was all powerful, would 
attack him, to repair the shattered glory of the Roman 
name. In short, Orodes, father of Phraatus, had massa- 
cred several Roman legions, conducted by Crassus, and 
that general had lost his life. Phraatus himself had 
ruined the victorious Mark Antony, seized upon several 
Roman ensigns, and carried off a large number of 
prisoners. Either because he feared the Roman pri- 
soners, or in respect to Augustus, Phraatus sent them 
all back to him. He did even more, he confided to 
the emperor four of his legitimate children to be edu- 
cated and serve at court as a pledge for his fidelity. 
Augustus, in return, sent Phraatus a present, which 
proved very fatal to him. This was a young female 
slave, a Greek by birth, and endowed with the most 
exquisite beauty. The king of the Parthians, who be- 
came desperately in love with her, forgot all the other 
women, with which his palace was filled. The influence 



THE VIRTUOUS TANCHE. 135 

of this beauty became still greater when she brought 
him a son, whom they called Phrahates. 

Phraatus, had then no other will, but that of the 
woman he adored. Thermusa, which was the name of 
the young Greek, profiting by her influence over the 
king, persuaded him to nominate her son for successor to 
the throne, instead of the legitimate princes. It was 
not long before the ancient Phraatus became a victim to 
the injustice which love had caused him to commit. He 
lived too long to please his successor, and this unna- 
tural son stained his hands in his father's blood, and as- 
cended the throne under the name of Arsaces, common 
to all the Parthian kings. He did not, however, long 
enjoy the fruits of his crimes. His last crime of parri- 
cide incensed his subjects so much, that they drove 
Phrahates and his guilty mother from the throne and 
capital, and they perished in their flight, a punishment 
too mild for the heinous nature of their crimes. This 
vas in the year of Rome 760. 



THE YIRTUOUS TANCHE. 

Saint Tanche, who was honored in the diocese of 
Troyes, the tenth of October, is indebted only to love 
for the martyr's crown. She was born in the village of 
Saint Ouen, in Champagne, toward the year 620, and 
had attained the age of seventeen, when her godfather, 
who resided at Arcis, invited her with her parents to 
make him a visit. The father and mother went, but 
Tanche remained at home in charge of the house. The 



^m 



136 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

godfather, however, being desirous of seeing her, sent a 
domestic for her with a horse, and Tanehe was soon in 
readiness to depart. Her young attendant was much 
struck with the "beauty of Tanehe, and made the most 
ardent declarations of his sentiments. This young and 
virtuous girl did not heed either his solicitations or 
threats. The young man, transported with rage, then 
threw her from the horse, and struck off her head 
in the meadow of Huitre, where she is honored, as she 
is also in the environs. 



RAYMOND LULLY. 

Raymond Ltjxly was, it is said, in his youth, governor 
of the Isle of Majorca. He there became enamored of a 
lady remarkable for her wit and beauty. She appeared 
nattered by her conquest, but although she was possessed 
of a soul of sensibility, and a tender heart, she refused to 
grant her lover what he termed the price of his love. 
Lully was not to be repulsed, and he played the part of 
a desperate lover, until the lady at length appeared van- 
quished, and appointed a rendezvous. There, after pro- 
testing to Lully that she loved him with all the tender- 
ness he could desire, and that her refusals had cost her 
as much as himself, she uncovered her breast, and dis- 
closed the deadly wounds of a cancer, which was consum- 
ing her. This sight affected Lully to tears, but his 
heart was not healed. Engrossed by the object of his 
love, and despairing ever to possess her, he resigned his 
place, turned hermit, and made a voyage to the Holy 



AN AMOROUS KING BEATEN. 137 

Land. On his return he went to Paris and studied philo- 
sophy under Rainaldus. It is known that he made 
astonishing progress, and that he merited the reputation 
he achieved. 



AN AMOROUS KING BEATEN. 

Philip IX. King of Spain, was passionately in love 
with the Duchess of Albuquerque, but he was unable 
to obtain a favorable opportunity for disclosing to her 
the ardor of his passion. The husband, who was aware 
of the danger, kept the strictest guard upon his wife. 
These obstacles did but inflame the desires of Philip. 
One night when the prince was playing a very close 
game of cards, he feigned to recollect that he had a 
letter to write of the utmost importance, and requested 
the Duke of Albuquerque to take his cards. Soon after 
the prince went into his closet, put on a cloak, and accom- 
panied by his favorite the Count of Olivarcy, left the 
palace by a private stair-case and repaired to the 
duchess. The Duke of Albuquerque, thinking more 
of his domestic interests than a game of cards, concluded 
that he had some particular design in giving him this 
charge. He began to complain of sudden and violent 
illness, and throwing his cards to another ran in haste to 
his house. The king who had just arrived, seeing the 
duke, hid himself; but Alburqueque, perceiving the king, 
would not suffer a torch to be brought that he might not 
be obliged to acknowledge him, and advanced toward 
Philip with a large cane, which he usually carried, ex- 
claiming, "So, so, rascal, you are come to rob my 



138 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

stables," and beat him with all his might. The count, 
who was not better treated, fearing the worst, cried out 
several times that it was the king ; but the duke only 
redoubled his blows upon the prince and minister, assur- 
ing him. that this was a great stroke of insolence, to make 
use of his majesty's name, upon that occasion, and that 
he had a great mind to have him carried to the palace, 
and that the king would surely have him hung. The 
king was silent during this uproar ; he at length escaped, 
much mortified at receiving so many blows, without 
being consoled with any of the favors that he had antici- 
pated. This adventure did not terminate to the preju- 
dice of the Duke of Albuquerque ; on the contrary, the 
passion of the king for the duchess having subsided, he 
laughed at it himself. 



HOW LOVE RUINED THE REPUBLIC OF ROME. 

It frequently happens that when a husband is dis- 
honored by his wife, that the world is amusing itself at 
his expense, while he himself is ignorant of his disgrace; 
for it is an unwelcome kind of truth that we fear to 
acquaint the husband with. Saint Jerome, as an ex- 
ample, cites the great Pompey. Mucia, his wife, daugh- 
ter of Quintus Mutius Scsevola, and sister of Quintus 
Metellus Celeus, abandoned herself to the most unbri- 
dled sensuality ; but no one informed Pompey of it, be- 
cause they supposed he could not be ignorant of such 
public disgrace. He was first informed of his dishonor 
by a soldier in his army. This information did not at 
first impress him very deeply, but upon reflection he 



HOW LOVE RUINED THE REPUBLIC OF ROME. 139 

sent a letter of divorce to Mucia. Caesar had been one 
of her lovers, and it was even this intrigue, it is said, 
that excited Pompia, the wife of Caesar, to revenge her- 
self with Ciodius. It is, however, true that this connec- 
tion between Caesar and Mucia, had become the talk of 
Rome. Metellus Celeus, seeing his sister divorced, de- 
clared himself the enemy of Pompey, which forced that 
great man to unite with Caesar against his inclination, 
and it was this union which caused the ruin of the re- 
public. In all this, love had caused Pompey only a 
passing chagrin ; but this same passion afterward af- 
fected more deeply this great man, and contributed 
greatly to his ruin. To Mucia succeeded Julia, daugh- 
ter of Caesar. Pompey loved her so tenderly that he 
devoted himself entirely to pleasing her, and conducted 
her to some of the finest countries in Italy. In this 
agreeable occupation, he neglected the interests of his 
people, and left all to the care of Caesar, who knew well 
how to profit by this opportunity. Besides, this life of ease 
injured Pompey seriously in the eyes of his partisans, and 
occasioned many slanderous reports to be circulated. Af- 
ter the death of Julia, Pompey married Cornelia, daugh- 
ter of Metellus Scipio, and widow of Publius Crassus 
the younger. She was young and handsome, and 
whether from love or jealousy, Pompey always carried 
her with him, even when he disputed the empire of the 
world with Caesar. She was at Mytelena at the time of 
the famous battle of Dyrrachium. Pompey was there 
vanquished, and took flight with Cornelia. It is said 
that, if he had returned to the Parthians, he might have 
recruited his party, and again disputed the world with 
Caesar. But the youth and beauty of Cornelia pre- 
vented her husband from conducting her to a people 



140 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

who were unacquainted with either decency or civiliza- 
tion. To avoid all the accidents which his love fore- 
boded, Pompey withdrew into Egypt, where, as it is 
known, he was put to death. 



P L A C I D I A. 

After the death of Stilico, whom the Emperor Ho- 
norius caused to perish, Alaric, king of the Goths, 
resolving to avenge the death of his beloved officer, 
advanced into Italy. After several attacks, he took 
possession of Rome, which he abandoned to the pillage 
of his troops, without the emperor's daring to oppose 
him. His vengeance would probably have extended 
farther, had he not been surprised by death. Ataulphe, 
his successor, found himself at the head of the same vic- 
torious troops, when love softened the ferocity of his 
spirit. At the taking of Rome, Placidia, sister of Ho- 
norius, was among the number of the prisoners. Her 
striking beauty made the most lively impression upon the 
heart of Ataulphe, and he aspired only to the happiness 
of espousing her. But the princess, although a pri- 
soner, preserved all her Roman pride, and positively 
refused to give her hand to the king of the Goths. 
This prince, instead of using violence, sought to render 
himself pleasing both to herself and Honorius by the 
gentleness of his behavior. It was this motive which 
induced him to quit Italy and go into Gaul, to fight 
against the enemies of the empire. Such conduct on 
the part of a barbarian prince, gives strong proof of the 
power of love, and merited that Honorius should con- 



SCHISM CAUSED BY LOVE. 141 

sent to the marriage of Ataulphe with Placidia ; but 
reasons of state opposed it. This princess was equally 
the object of the vows and ambition of Constantius. 
This officer had rendered great services to the empire 
by the death of Constantine and the defeat of Geronce. 
It was dangerous to give him cause for discontent, and 
it was equally so to refuse the demand of Ataulphe. 
Placidia delivered her brother from this embarrassment ; 
for she was touched with the passion and attentions of 
the Gothic prince, and she consented to marry him. 
Ataulphe dying a short time after, Placidia, his widow, 
was sent back to Honorius, and Constantius then re- 
newed his demand. The beauty of this princess without 
doubt contributed to such ardent perseverance, but am- 
bition was the principal inducement, as it afterwards ap- 
peared, for having obtained the hand of Placidia, Con- 
stantius forced Honorius to make him an associate in the 
empire. He reigned only eight months and a few days, 
but after his death Placidia continued to reign in the 
west with her son Valentinian III. 



SCHISM CAUSED BY LOVE. 

Love was the original cause of the schism which 
separated the Greek from the Latin Church. The 
emperor Michael III., given up to the most infamous 
intrigues, had associated in the empire Bardus, brother 
of the empress. The latter, having divorced his wife 
without cause, married his aunt. The patriarch Ignatius, 
who would not countenance this unlawful marriage, ex- 
communicated Bardus. This prince caused Ignatius to 



142 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

be deposed and exiled, and placed in his stead Photius, a 
man fall of ambition, but respectable from bis learning. 
He was the author of a work which is still extant, and 
known under the name of Bibliotheca. The pope and 
several Greek bishops, refused to acknowledge Photius 
as patriarch. There were several councils convened on 
this subject. Ignatius was recalled, and again deposed. 
Photius then being unable to win the pope, destroyed 
the intelligence which existed between the Greek and 
Latin Church, on account of several points of doctrine 
and discipline, among others, upon the procession of the 
Holy Ghost, the fasts of Saturday and of Lent, the mar- 
riage of priests and several others. Thus began the 
famous schism, which still continues. 



THE FATE OF OVID. 

Publius Ovid ISTaso, a Roman knight, renounced 
all his hopes of dignities to give himself up entirely to 
poetry, and he had reason to be contented with his suc- 
cess. Love, and his attachment to the muses, occasioned 
the misfortunes of this poet's life. He was exiled by the 
Emperor Augustus, into the country of the Getes, and 
was never able to obtain pardon. His "Art of Love, 1 ' 
was the pretext of this exile, but the true cause was that 
he made his court with success to Julia, the daughter of 
Augustus, or according to others, to Livia the wife of 
that prince. It is generally agreed, that Livia had only 
the exterior of virtue, and it is most probable that Julia 
alone was the object of Ovid's love. This young and 
beautiful princess, while the wife of Agrippa, abandoned 



ADALULPHE. 143 

herself without reserve to her passions and it was diffi- 
cult to number her lovers. One of them at that time, 
asked why her children bore so strong a resemblance to 
their father, she replied, 

" Nunquam, nisi plena navi, tollo victoriam." 



ADALULPHE. 

- Adaltilphe, a great Lombard nobleman, could not 
resist the charms and beauty of Gunderbergue, the wife 
of Ariovaldus, king of Lombardy. He was seized with 
the most violent passion for her, but he did not dare to 
declare it. Some kind treatment he experienced from 
his mistress made him forget his timidity. He had the 
boldness to make an attempt upon the honor of Gunder- 
bergue, but he met with the most obstinate resistance. 
Being then afraid, lest the king should hear of his crimi- 
nal enterprise, and he charged with treasonable designs 
the very princess he adored. The too credulous 
king had confined Gunderbergue without allowing her 
either time or means of justifying herself. Three years 
had already elapsed since the unjust detention of the 
queen, when Clotaire, king of France, moved with com- 
passion at the misfortune of the prmcess, sent ambassa- 
dors to Ariovaldus, to remonstrate with him that he had 
no right, on a mere accusation destitute of proofs, to 
treat with so much cruelty Gunderbergue, who was a 
princess of the royal blood of France, and thus to de- 
prive her of the honors due to her birth and rank. The 
king contented himself with answering, that he had 



144 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

pretty strong reasons to act in that manner. One of the 
ambassadors, named Asould, resuming the speech, " We 
shall be of your opinion," said he to the king, " if you 
will be so kind as to permit the queen to justify herself 
through the medium of some of her officers, who will 
fight her accuser in a 'duel." Ariovaldus consented to 
this proposal. Then Aripert, a near relation to the 
queen, sent for one Pitto to fight with Adalulphe, who 
accepted the challenge. Victory declared on behalf of 
innocence. Adalulphe was killed, and Gunderbergue 
was liberated from her prison and resumed her rank. 



THE STORT OF ABEN HUMEIA. 

This prince was a Spaniard by birth, of an illustrious 
extraction, and of vast wealth. His real name was 
Fernando de Yalore. Some unpleasant events at home 
induced him to renounce his country and his religion, 
and to take refuge among the Moors. In a certain 
rebellion, which happened among those people, they 
chose him king of Grenada and Cordova, when he took 
the name of Aben Humeia, In that capacity he ob- 
tained several victories over the Spaniards, and was sup- 
porting, with a tolerable degree of dignity, his crown, 
when love took both that and his life from his posses- 
sion. He fell passionately in love with a young widow, 
highly distinguished both for her beauty and eminent birth. 
She was the daughter' of Vincent Royas, first cousin to 
the father of the king's first wife. To the natural 
graces of her person, she added all the talents which 
render a woman infinitely attractive. She loved one of 



THE STORY OF ABEN HUMEIA. 1-15 

the principal officers of the king, whose name was 
Diego, an alguazil, who had been an intimate friend 
of her husband. Aben Humeia was sensible that the 
uniting of these two lovers would facilitate his objects, 
and he therefore proposed that Diego should marry the 
widow. Diego, who had already suspected the passion of 
the king, skillfully waived the proposition. Aben Humeia 
who, until that time, had received nothing but refusals 
from her, now by his natterings and promises succeeded. 
The prospect of a crown was worth a great sacrifice, 
and Diego was forgotten, and the king made happy. 
Possession, they say, is the tomb of love ; and it proved 
so in the case of Aben Humeia, who, having every wish 
gratified, forgot his promises. But he suffered richly 
for that forgetfulness, for his deceived mistress was fully 
bent on revenging herself, She wrote to Diego, and, 
regardless of palliating her offence, drew a most lively 
picture of her distressed situation. The love which he 
still felt for this unfaithful fair one, and the desire of 
punishing his rival, did not permit him to hesitate. 
He knew the king reposed the greatest trust in a troop 
of four hundred Turks, commanded by Abdalla-Aben- 
Abo. He had a fictitious letter conveyed to that com- 
manding officer, by which the king ordered him to 
massacre the four hundred Turks, and then to kill 
Diego. The latter arrived at Abdalla's at the same 
time with the order. He spoke with vehemence against 
this project of putting to death so many brave and 
innocent officers. Abdalla, who could not execute this 
command without the assistance of Diego, showed him 
the king's letter. Diego feigned the greatest surprise, 
and made Abdalla believe that his lot would soon be the 
same. Common danger united them both, and they im- 

1 



146 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

mediately formed the plan to strip Aben Humeia both 
of his throne and life. The troops readily agreed to the 
project, and they immediately started upon their jour- 
ney, and arrived during the night at the apartment of 
the king. In vain did he protest his innocence, and the 
falsity of the letter. He was strangled to death and 
Abdalla succeeded him. *Diego married the widow. 



OCRISSIA. 

Seevttjs Tuelius, who succeeded the ancient Tarquin, 
king of Rome, owed, it is said, his existence and eleva- 
tion to love. At the taking of Cornicula, a city very 
near Tivoli, by Tarquin, there was among the slaves a 
young woman of singular beauty, named Ocrissia. The 
charms of youth and beauty will make an impression even 
on the savage heart. Ocrissia found favor in the eyes of 
her conquerors, and they conducted her to Tarquin, 
who, probably enchanted with her beauty, presented her 
to Tanaquil, his wife. Some authors pretend to say that 
Ocrissia was married when she was taken prisoner, and 
that her husband Tullius perished in defence of his 
country. Others maintain that she was still a girl, and 
that she was married to one of Tarquin's slaves, and 
that Servius was born in the palace of the king, which 
may prove that Tarquin formed this marriage to avoid 
exciting the jealousy of Tanaquil, and to enjoy with 
greater ease the favors of Ocrissia, whom he loved. 
Some honor Servius by making him the son of Lar, one 
of the household gods who presided in Tarquin's palace, 
probably because they would directly say that this god 



LUSIGNAN. 147 

Lar, was no other than Tarquin himself; it is certain, 
however, that all historians unite in affirming that the king 
entertained the tenderness of a father for young Servius. 
Educated beneath the eyes of Tarquin, trained by that 
prince, and early intrusted with the command of the 
troops, Servius insensibly acquired the esteem of the 
Romans. First, he made them forget the uncertainty of 
his birth by marrying an illustrious Roman, named 
Gegania, and still more by espousing the daughter of the 
king after the death of his first wife. It was in this way 
that Tarquin made the way for Servius to approach the 
throne, and by raising him to it, flattered at the same 
time both his affection and political interests. The two 
sons of Tarquin were too young to succeed him, and this 
prince thought he could not give a better tutor to his 
children than Servius. Tanaquil entirely entered into 
the wishes of her husband, and showed the sincerest 
attachment to Servius, and when the king was assassin- 
ated it was by the care and advice of the queen that his 
death was concealed for some days, till Servius was 
assured of ascending the throne without opposition. We 
have related in another article how fatally this success 
terminated for Rome. 



LUSIGNAN. 

Peter de Lusignan, King of Cyprus, experienced all 
the misery that the most unfortunate passion could occa- 
sion. Obliged to go into Italy upon affairs of impor- 
tance, he confided the government of his estates to the 
Count do Rohas. This regent, little sensible of the confi- 



148 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

dence the king reposed in him, and stimulated by a pas- 
sion which admits of neither prudence nor reason, aspired 
to the heart of the queen, and his presumption met 
with the greatest success. One crime generally leads to 
another, and the lovers, sensible that the king would put 
an end to interviews on his return, and fearing they 
would be sacrificed to his vengeance, boldly devised an 
expedient to dethrone Lusignan. A nobleman of the 
name of Viscomti, faithful to his prince, and informed of 
the project of the regent, divulged to the king this crime. 
Lusignan arriving soon after, the perfidious count, his 
rival, was arrested, and treated with the utmost rigor 
of the law. The process discovered all the horrors of 
their conduct, and the ruin of the count necessarily 
affected that of the queen. This princess knew it well, 
joining therefore her personal interests with her criminal 
love, she by the power of presents corrupted the judges. 
The guilty were declared innocent, and Viscomti, as a ca- 
lumniator, was condemned to perpetual banishment. This 
sentence did not impose on Lusignan, but not having the 
power to reverse, he vented all his rage on his subjects, 
which until then he had governed with the greatest 
moderation. Upon the slightest pretext he had them 
imprisoned, corrupted their wives and daughters, and 
caused numbers to perish by the executioner. Soon the 
ordinary prisons were too small to contain the melancholy 
victims of the fury of this prince. He then built a very 
large one in the public square, making all, without regard 
to sex, wealth or rank, to aid in the construction of this 
edifice. A young lady employed with the others at this 
work, was in the habit of tucking up her clothes, but on 
the approach of the king put them down. Being asked 
the reason of this strange whim, she replied, " We are 



A TERRIBLE FIGHT. 149 

not scrupulous in these matters, and among you all there 
is none but the prince who appears to me to be a man." 
This skillful reproach produced an immediate effect on 
the Cyprians, and their eyes were opened to the humili- 
ating servitude they were compelled to bear. They fell 
upon the king and poignarded him. 



A TERRIBLE FIGHT. 

Count of Bussy, who lived in the reigns of Charles 
IX. and Henry III., who was so noted for his bravadoes, 
had with M. St. Fal, among other disputes, one which 
made a great stir. It commenced in a playhouse at 
Paris, about an embroidered muff. Had it not been for 
the presence of a lady whom Bussy loved they would 
have fought on the spot. The next day M. Bussy 
went to his adversary's and they went out together 
to a place agreed upon, each with their friends, and the 
contest began. A wound which Bussy received in one 
of his fingers from a pistol put an end to the fight for 
a short time. They purposed to renew it in another 
place, had not Bussy been sent for by his majesty. 
The whole of this dispute arose from nothing but a love 
affair. Count of Bussy had fallen deeply in love with a 
handsome and wealthy widow, named Madame Defrigny. 
She made choice of M. St. Fal for her second husband, 
and Bussy, angry at not having married the widow him- 
self, commenced this quarrel with his rival. At last love 
was the cause of Count Bussy's death. The journal of 
Henry III. gives us a correct account of this adventure ; 



150 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

the facts are thus recounted : Bussy d' Ambrose, first 
gentleman of M. le Due, governor of Anjou, who 
grew extremely arrogant on account of the favor of his 
master, was killed by the Count de Montsereau, together 
with the criminal Lieutenant de Saumar, in the house of 
the said Montsereau, where that night the lieutenant 
had conducted him to the presence of the wife of Mont- 
sereau, to whom Bussy had for some time made love, 
which lady had purposely made a false assignation, to 
have him surprised by her husband. On appearing at 
midnight, he was hotly assailed by a dozen men that 
accompanied Montsereau, who in their fury fell upon 
Bussy to kill him. Seeing himself so deceived, and 
although poorly prepared for such an encounter, he did 
not delay to defend himself, as he best could, showing as 
he had often said that fear never entered his heart, for 
he fought while there remained a bit of sword in his 
hand, and after defended himself with tables, chairs, and 
stools, with which he wounded several of his assailants. 
After this, being subdued by numbers and stripped of all 
instruments of defence, he was knocked down near a 
window. It is necessary to explain how Montsereau, 
discovered the intrigue between his wife and Bussy. 
The latter, had by his arrogance, become the object of 
the king's displeasure, and had also lost his influence 
over M. le Due d' Anjou. This prince, to divert the 
king his brother, showed him one day, a letter written 
by Bussy, in which he said, " I have spread a snare for 
the Hind of the great Huntsman, and I hold her in my 
Net." The hind was the wife of Count de Montsereau, 
to whom the Duke Anjou, at the solicitation of Bussy, 
had given the place of his great huntsman. The king, 
who had long had a design against Bussy, kept this 



ALROTX AXD ROSEMONDA. 



151 



letter, and shewed it to the Count de Montsereau. There 
needed no more to animate the latter, and he forced his 
wife to appoint a rendezvous, in the house where Bussy 
came, and was assassinated. 



ALBOIN AND ROSEMONDA. 

Alboin, king of Lombardy, had been first wedded to 
Clodosvende, daughter of Clotaire, king of France. Af- 
ter the death of that princess he married Rosemonda, 
daughter to Guinimond, king of the Gepides. This 
second alliance was contracted under bad auspices. Guini- 
mond, vanquished by Alboin, had been put to death, 
and that he might never forget either his triumph or 
cruelty, Alboin had the skull of Guinimond set in gold 
and used to drink out of it. Rosemonda was compelled 
to throw herself into the arms of her father's murderer. 
The thirst for vengeance, joined with love, hastened the 
death of Alboin. One of the queen's officers, named 
Helmichid, had the good luck to please her, and she used 
this ascendency over the mind of the officer, to satisfy 
her vengeance. What irritated her the most, was that 
Alboin, at a large entertainment compelled her to drink 
out of her father's skull. But Helmichid in spite of his 
love, and the promised reward, said to the princess that 
it was impossible to kill the king without the consent of 
Perides his favorite. When this project was first hinted 
to that nobleman, they received only repulse, and the 
queen was obliged to resort to the most base stratagem 
to gain his approval. The queen was well informed of 
the intimacies existing between Perides and a lady of her 



152 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

retinue. In the dead hour of a certain night, she sub- 
stituted herself for that lady in a rendezvous which had 
been appointed, and declared herself to Perides. He 
was soon sensible, that he must either kill the king, or 
see himself sacrificed to the vengeance of that prince. 
He adopted the first, and had the king assassinated. 
Rosemonda fled to Ravenna, where she married Hel- 
michid. The governor of that town, under the title of 
Exarch, was called Longinus. He was so intoxicated 
with the charms of Rosemonda, that he aimed only to 
please her. He finally pursuaded her to destroy Hel- 
michid. She was deeply in love, and was not over scru- 
pulous of the means she used to gain her wishes. She her- 
self presented Helmichid with a deadly poison she had pre- 
pared under pretence of a cooling beverage. The effect 
of it was so sudden that he felt it before he finished the 
draught. Knowing the guilty princess had committed 
this crime, he drew his sword upon her and threatened 
to kill her if she did not swallow the remainder of the 
poison. Both died in a few minutes after 



BUADE 



Captain Buade, who was beheaded at the Hague on 
account of a correspondence he was accused of holding 
with the enemies of the States, had married, through 
the protection of the House of Orange, where he had 
been a page, Miss Niveras, daughter of Cornelius Musek, 
the secretary of the States and one of the richest men 
in Holland. This marriage did not prove a happy one ; 



THE CRIMES OF CLEOPATRA. 153 

for the lady having been a coquette while single, became 
still worse after marriage. It is said that she absented 
herself from home for seven or eight days ; and that on 
her return, her husband gave her a hundred strokes 
with the flat of his sword. This woman must have en- 
tertained something even worse than indifference against 
her husband, since we are told that she witnessed his 
execution from her window. She did not lead a more 
correct life in her widowhood, as she became the public 
mistress of Jouvelle, captain of the black musketeers. 
She turned Catholic, and made her abjuration in the 
hands of the Archbishop of Paris, Francis de Harley, 
" but," says the author, from whom we copy this anec- 
dote, "in abjuring heresy she did not abjure licentious- 
ness." 



THE CRIMES OF CLEOPATRA. 

Demetrius Nicator, eldest son of Demetrius Soter, 
king ot Syria, saw his father dethroned by an adventurer 
named Alexander Bala, and both himself and brother An- 
tiochus Sidetas were fortunate enough to escape death. 
Apprised in his retreat that the usurper was detested by 
all his subjects, he presented himself to them, to reascend 
the throne which belonged to him. This step had the 
happiest success, but he had soon a competitor in the 
son of Bala, and afterwards in Tryphon, another usurper. 
Demetrius followed Antiochus into the provinces of the 
East, bearing arms against the Parthians. After some suc- 
cess, he was conquered and taken prisoner ; but his con- 
queror conceiving the greatest esteem for him, did 

7* 



154 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

everything in his power to soften his fate. It was in 
this state that Demetrius, forgetting he had espoused 
Cleopatra, daughter of Ptolemy Philometer, king of 
Egypt, and the widow of Bala, had the impudence to 
marry Rhodogune, daughter of Phraates, king of the 
Parthians. This news having reached the ears of Cleo- 
patra, she conceived the most violent jealousy, and re- 
venged herself cruelly. She espoused Antiochus Sidetas, 
brother to Demetrius. After the death of this husband, 
who was killed in fighting against the Parthians, she 
steadily refused to unite with Demetrius, although he 
had returned to Syria, and had reascended the throne. 
A man called Alexander Zebina, who passed for the son 
of Bala, came forward to dispute the crown with Nicator, 
and conquered ; and this prince, who had experienced 
all the vicissitudes of fortune, was obliged to fly. He 
retired toward Ptolemais, where Cleopatra his wife com- 
manded; but as this princess had not yet pardoned 
Demetrius' infidelity, she caused the gates of the city to 
be shut against him. He then passed into Tyre, where he 
was killed. We shall here mention, in a few words, 
some of the atrocious deeds of Cleopatra. Of the two 
sons she had by Nicator, the eldest attained to an age 
to reign and was named Seleucus ; his mother, ambitious 
and cruel, herself plunged a poignard into his bosom 
to preserve her authority. When she perceived that 
the people murmured at obeying a woman, she caused 
Antiochus, her second son, who was still a beardless 
youth, to be proclaimed king. His youth prevented his 
taking part in the administration, but when Cleopatra 
perceived that the young prince endeavored to shake off 
her yoke, she presented Antiochus with a cup of poison, 
as he returned from taking exercise ; but the prince 



DIOGENES CAAB AND THE KORAN. 155 

being forewarned of it, forced his mother to swallow the 
beverage. Such was the end of this princess, the wife 
of three kings, the mother of four, who had caused the 
death of two of her husbands, and killed one of her 
sons. 



DIOGENES. 

Love, the little god, whose mighty power we have so 
imperfectly described, never showed himself greater 
than when he seized upon Diogenes, who had no other 
habitation than a tub, and whose whole exterior showed 
only the signs of poverty and slovenliness. It must have 
been a rare sight to behold this cynic, given up to all 
the -extravagance of a passionate love. He became 
enamored with Lais, an established courtesan at Cor- 
inth, and it is singular that this Lais, who estimated her 
favors at such a high price, was equally in love with 
this ill-looking: Diogenes. 



CAAB AND THE KORAN. 

Caab, or Cab-ben Zohair, was a distinguished poet 
among the Arabs, and one of those rabbis who had 
embraced Judaism. Mahomet became his sworn 
enemy, on account of a satirical poem he wrote against 
his sect. The prophet was so desirous of revenging 
himself, that he declared war against those tribes of 
the Arabs who professed Judaism, with the design of 
seizing Caab. The poet, seeing Mahomet master of 



156 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

Arabia, endeavored to effect a reconciliation with him, 
by substituting in his poem the name of Aboubeker for 
that of Mahomet, and by turning Mahometan. The 
reconciliation, in spite of all these sacrifices, was still 
not complete, and it remained for love and women to 
soften the anger of the prophet. Caab then composed 
a poem in honor of the most beloved of Mahomet's mis- 
tresses. This method succeeded, and from that time 
the poet was considered one of Mahomet's greatest 
favorites, and particularly after the prophet presented 
him with the cloak he wore. It is also believed that 
Caab assisted in the composition of the Alcoran. 



THE DUCHESS OF CHATILLON. 

The Duchess of Chatillon endeavored, by her charms, 
to gain friends for the great Prince de Conde, who led 
the Spaniards against his country. She inspired the 
Marechal d'Hocquincourt, Governor of Peronne, with 
a passion for her, and induced him to enter into a treaty 
with the prince. Still more to please the duchess, the 
marechal engaged in his party those who had com- 
manded at Hedin, and they refused to open the gates of 
that city to those who came to take the government on 
the part of the king. This manoeuvre came near ren- 
dering the Spaniards masters of the frontiers ; but the 
marechal, who had taken some impolitic steps, lost his 
government ; and, in addition to this misfortune, he per- 
ceived he had a rival who was preferred in the heart of 
Madame de Chatillon. Not knowing what to do in this 
cruel situation, he retired into Flanders, where the 



ETHELBEET. 157 

Spaniards endeavored by their kindness to make him 
amends for what he had lost, but they were unable to 
prevent his remorse and repentance for having listened 
so much to his passion. His wife was fortunate enough 
to have the government of Peronne given to her son, 
and to prevent the confiscation of her husband's effects. 
A short time after, the inarechal, having come with the 
Spanish army to raise the seige of Dunkirk, was severely 
wounded and expired a few days after. He died sincerely 
grieved for having been the dupe of a pair of fine eyes, 
and for having borne arms against his king. 
This was in 1658. 



ETHELBERT. 

The establishment of Christianity in the kingdom of 
Kent was, in part, owing to a woman. Ethelbert, who 
reigned in that country, married Bertha, daughter of 
Caribert, king of Paris. This princess was a Christian, 
and one of the conditions to her marriage was the liberty 
of her religion. She made herself so beloved and 
adored, both by her husband and his subjects, that they 
began to believe that the religion of so amiable a queen 
must be a true one. The minds of the people were thus 
disposed, when Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory to 
preach the gospel in the kingdom of Kent. He received 
the most gracious welcome, and was not there long be- 
fore he made considerable progress. The death of Ethel- 
bert destroyed the works of the pious missionary, and 
love recalled idolatry. Eadbald, the son and successor 
of Ethelbert, entertained a passion for his mother-in-law, 



158 .ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

and as Christianity would not allow such an alliance, he 
preferred rather to renounce his religion than his love. The 
people, faithful imitators of those who govern them, re- 
turned to their false god. The bishops were driven out 
of the kingdom, and it was not until several years after, 
that Eadbald, struck by a miracle (performed they say by 
Laurentius, successor to Augustine), having abjured his 
passion, again introduced Christianity. 



TROUBADOURS IN LOYE. 

They were the ancient poets of Provence who wrote, 
set, and sung their own verses. They had a code of 
laws consisting of thirty-one articles, of which the follow- 
ing are a few: 1. Marriage is not a lawful excuse for 
not falling in love. 2. A man who cannot be silent can- 
not love. 3. ISTo one can love two persons at the same 
time. 4. Love must ever be increasing or diminishing. 
V. A widowhood of two years must be undergone for a 
dead lover. 15. Every lover is bound to grow pale at 
the sight of his mistress. 17. A new love expels the 
old. 23. A true lover is bound to be sparing in sleep 
and food. 26. Love can deny nothing to love. Guill- 
aume de Bergedon, a troubadour, had loved a maiden 
from her infancy. As she grew up he declared his love ; 
and she promised to bestow a kiss on him when he 
should visit her ; but she refused to fulfill this j^romise, 
under pretext that at the period when she made it, she 
was. not aware of the consequences. This case was 
referred to a certain lord, who decided that the lady 



CHARLES II. AND MISS STUART. 



159 



should be at the mercy of the troubadour, who should 
take a kiss and immediately restore the same. 

A cavalier loved a lady, and as he did not enjoy a fre- 
quent opportunity of conversing with her, it was agreed 
between them that they should communicate by the 
intervention of a secretary, by which means their passion 
might be the better concealed. The secretary, however, 
forgetting the confidence reposed in him, pleaded his 
own cause, and was heard with a favorable ear. The 
cavalier then denounced him to the countess of Cham- 
pagne, and humbly demanded that the offence should 
be judged by her and other ladies ; to which the crimi- 
nal himself assented. The countess having convoked 
sixty ladies, pronounced the following judgment: "Let 
this fraudulent lover, who has met with a lady worthy 
of him, that has not blushed to become an accomplice in 
so shameful an offence, enjoy his ill-bought pleasure, and 
let her pride herself in her lover. But let them both be 
forever excluded from all other attachments; and let 
them never be invited to the assemblies of the ladies or 
the courts of the knights, since he has offended against 
the knightly oath, and she contrary to womanly modesty 
has yielded to the love of a secretary." 



CHARLES II. AND MISS STUART. 

When Charles II., king of England, ascended the 
throne yet stained with his father's blood, he created 
Edward Hyde chancellor of the realm and prime min- 
ister, and this choice met with general satisfaction. All 
admired in that great man his exact probity and un- 



160 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

tiring zeal for his own party. Travelling in different 
courts during the misfortunes of Charles I., he had 
assisted Charles II. in all his councils, and had shared 
with him all reverses. He had for a long time en- 
joyed the highest degree of his sovereign's favor; but 
the authority of his wisdom not allowing him any favor 
with the wives of the king, he had the misfortune to 
displease the Duchess of Cleveland, a woman who was 
rapacious, dissolute, and vindictive. She succeeded in 
undermining the credit of Edward Hyde, Earl of Cla- 
rendon, and Charles, influenced by the duchess, insensi- 
bly acquired the dislike which terminated in the remo- 
val of the minister. The nation had indeed laid some 
charges to Clarendon, but they were, for the most part, 
without foundation, and would have had no impression 
on the mind of the king, had not love and women torn 
from his heart the friendship he had always felt for 
Clarendon. This monarch, too much given up to his 
own pleasures, had not been able to conquer his distaste 
for the queen, and the fact of her having no children 
still increased the aversion of her husband. The beauty 
of Miss Stuart, daughter of a Scottish gentleman, had 
made a lively impression on the heart of Charles. As 
he experienced an uncommon resistance from this virtu- 
ous beauty, he thought seriously of divorcing the queen. 
The chancellor, through zeal to his master, and no 
doubt, a little through interest for the children of his 
daughter, who had married the Duke of York, engaged 
the Duke of Richmond to marry Miss Stuart. This 
step, which had the desired success, ended in the disgrace 
of the Earl of Clarendon. Charles was so indignant 
that he forbade the duke and duchess to appear at court, 
and never after pardoned this device of the chancellor. 



A. TRAGIC END OF AN AFFAIR. 161 

The seals were taken from him, and his enemies, not 
content with this, obtained against him a bill of banish- 
ment and incapacity, which was confirmed by the king. 
Clarendon withdrew into France, where he devoted his 
leisure hours in composing a history of the civil wars of 
his country — a work which does great honor to his 
memory. 



A TRAGIC END OF AN AFFAIR. 

M. de Coucy, a sprightly, agreeable, and valiant 
nobleman, was passionately in love with the lady of Lord 
Fayel. She was named Gabriella, and was descended 
from the ancient house of the Lords de Vergy, in Bur- 
gundy. This lady, who had loved Raoul de Coucy 
before her marriage, in resigning herself in spite of her 
inclinations into the arms of another, had not been able 
to forget De Coucy. She heard with the most poignant 
grief, that he was ready to depart for the Holy Land, 
with the king and Count de Champagne ; nevertheless, 
she did not oppose his departure, hoping that his absence 
would dissipate the jealousy of her husband. The hour 
of separation having arrived, the two lovers parted, 
giving proofs of their undying attachment. M. De 
Coucy, who courted the muses, left with his mistress a 
copy of verses he had composed in honor of her. She, 
also, presented him with rings, diamonds, and above all, 
with a cordon she had beautifully worked with hair and 
silk, and having at the end large buttons of pearl, serving 
to tie a magnificent band worn under the helmet. These 
gifts, so precious in the eyes of a lover, did not render 



162 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

him invulnerable, for Raoul de Coucy was mortally 
wounded in the battle of Acre. Knowing there was no 
hope of his surviving, he employed his few last moments 
in writing to Madame Fayel. He then ordered his squire 
after his death to embalm his heart, and carry it to his 
mistress with the letter and the presents she had made 
him, and which he always carried about him. The 
squire executed in part the commands, and returned to 
France to conclude them, but this was the difficult part. 
Concealing himself in a wood near the castle, where 
Madame Fayel was, this faithful domestic awaited a favor- 
able chance to deliver the gifts into her hands. But he 
had the misfortune to encounter the Lord de Fayel, who 
knew him, and who, judging that he came to seek his 
wife in behalf of his master, threatened to kill him if he 
did not disclose the purport of his visit. The man, 
alarmed at his danger, told all, and gave up the heart 
and letter of his master. These sad remains excited the 
most horrid vengeance. De Fayel ordered his cooks to 
dress the heart with other viands in a dish, that he knew 
would be to the taste of their lady; she, finding the 
ragout palatable, eat heartily of it. Her inhuman hus- 
band then told her what she had eaten, and to destroy 
all doubts in her mind, showed her the letter and 
presents. This unfortunate woman feeling that it was 
true, said to her husband : " It is true that I have dearly 
loved that heart, which merited so well to be beloved, 
as there was never one more generous ; since I have 
eaten a meal so noble, and that my stomach has become 
the tomb of a gem so precious, I will keep it carefully from 
baser mixtures." Grief interrupted her speech, she con- 
fined herself, and after four days without sustenance, she 
died amidst groans and sighs. This was in 1191. 



LOVE REWARDED. 163 



LOVE REWARDED. 



The plains in which Lima, the capital of Pern, is built, 
are the most beautiful in the world ; they are of a vast 
extent, reaching from the foot of the Andes, or Cordil- 
lera mountains, to the sea, and are covered with groves 
of orange trees and citrons, watered by many streams ; 
one of the principal among which, washing the walls of 
Lima, falls into the ocean at Callao, which latter place is 
the scene of the following story : 

To this city Don Juan de Mendozo, yet an infant, had 
come over with his father from old Spain. The father hav- 
ing borne many high offices in Peru, died, much esteemed, 
and honored rather than rich. The young gentleman 
had in early youth conceived a very violent passion for 
Dona Cornelia de Perez, daughter to a wealthy mer- 
chant who dwelt in the city of Callao, at that time the 
best port in the western world. 

But though the young lady, who was reputed the 
most accomplished person in the Indies, returned his 
affection, he met with an insuperable difficulty in the 
avarice and inflexibility of the father; who, preferring 
wealth to every other consideration, absolutely refused 
his consent; and at length the unfortunate lover saw 
himself under the necessity of returning to his native 
country, the most miserable of all beings, torn away for- 
ever from all that he held dear. 

The ship in which he was to sail for Spain was about to 
depart from the port of Callao ; the wind fair, the crew 
all employed, the passengers rejoicing in the expectation 
of seeing once more the place of their nativity. Amidst 
the shouts and acclamations with which the whole bay 



164 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

resounded, Mendozo sat upon deck, overwhelmed with 
sorrow, beholding those walls in which he had left the 
only person who could have made him happy. A thou- 
sand tender, a thousand melancholy thoughts, possessed 
his mind. 

In the meantime, the serenity of the sky is disturbed ; 
sudden flashes of lightning dart across, which, increas- 
ing, fill the whole air with flame. A noise is heard from 
the bowels of the earth, at first low and rumbling, but 
growing louder, and soon exceeding the roar of the 
most violent thunder. This was instantly followed by a 
trembling ; the first shocks were of short continuance, 
but in a few moments they became quicker, and of longer 
duration. The sea seemed to be thrown up into the sky, 
the arch of heaven to bend downwards. The Cordil- 
leras, among the highest mountains of the earth, shook to 
their foundation, and bursting open with a sound that 
appeared to portend a total dissolution of nature, deluged 
the plains Avith fire, and threw rocks of immense magni- 
tude into the air. The houses, arsenals, and churches of 
Callao tottered from side to side, and at length tumbled 
upon the heads of the wretched inhabitants. 

Those of every age and sex who did not thus perish, 
rushed into the streets and public roads ; but even there 
found no safety. The whole earth was in motion ; nor 
was the ocean less disturbed. The ships in the harbor 
were, some of them, torn from their anchors, some of 
them swallowed up by the waves, some dashed on the 
rocks, many thrown several miles up into the land. The 
whole city of Callao, lately so flourishing and filled with 
half the wealth of the Indies, disappeared, partly in- 
gulfed, partly carried away by confined gases that 
burst from the entrails of the earth. Vast quantities 



LOYE EE WARDED. 165 

of spoils of furniture, and precious goods, were after- 
wards taken up floating some leagues off at sea. 

In the midst of this astonishing confusion, Mendozo 
was, perhaps, the only person unconcerned for himself. 
fle beheld the whole tremendous scene from the deck of 
his ship, which was one of the few that rode out the 
tempest, concerned only for the destruction falling on 
his beloved Cornelia. And he mourned her fate as una- 
voidable, little rejoicing at his own safety, since life had 
now become a burden. 

But after the space of an hour, this terrible hurricane 
ended ; the earth regained her stability, the sky its calm- 
ness. He then beheld, close by the stern of his ship, 
an olive tree floating, to a bough of which clung some 
one in the dress of a female. He was touched with com- 
passion; and, hastening to her relief, found her yet 
breathing. On raising her up, how unspeakable was his 
astonishment, when he beheld in his arms his beloved, 
his lamented Cornelia, the manner of whose miraculous 
escape is thus recorded : 

In this wreck of nature, in which the elements -of earth 
and water changed their places, fishes were borne up 
into the midland, and trees and houses, and men, into the 
deep. It happened that the fair Cornelia was hurried 
into the sea, together with the tree, to which, in the be- 
ginning of the commotion, she had clung, and was 
thrown up by the side of that very ship which contained 
her faithful Mendozo. I cannot paint to you the emo- 
tions of his mind, the joy, the amazement, the gratitude, 
the tenderness. Words cannot express them. 

Oh ! thrice happy Mendozo, how wonderfully was thy 
love rewarded ! Lo, the wind is fair ; haste, bear with 
thee to thy native Spain thy inestimable prize : return 



166 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

no less justly triumphant than did formerly the illustri- 
ous Cortez, loaded with the spoils of Montezuma, the 
treasures of a newly discovered world. 



THE STOKY OF TOURETTE. 

Danville, son of the celebrated high constable De 
Montmorency, was marechal of France, and governor of 
Languedoc. The high favor of the Guises, sworn ene- 
mies of his house, made Danville suspicious of the court, 
which he did not frequent on that account, but kept 
within his own government, where he reigned all power- 
ful. After the second edict of the peace, granted to the 
Huguenots by Henry III., Danville, who would not leave 
Languedoc, became enamored of a woman of Beaucaire, 
named Tourette, whose beauty was uncommon, but his 
title of governor and his reputation made no impression 
on her heart. She had given her affections to Parabon, 
governor of Beaucaire, and to facilitate their interviews 
had come to lodge near the castle. The jealousy of 
Danville led him to revenge himself in a most cruel 
manner. He stirred up some officers, malcontents of the 
governor, who, being joined by some citizens and also 
by the relatives of the lady, killed her with Parabon, 
and then seized upon the city. The soldiers who were 
in the castle and who refused to surrender, called upon 
Chatillon to revenge the death of their governor. The 
nobleman entered the castle with three thousand men. 
The city of Beaucaire would have been destroyed on 
account of a woman, had not the court and king of 
Navarre sent prompt relief. 



TWO HUSBANDS MOURNING FOR ONE WIFE. 167 



TWO HUSBANDS MOURNING FOR ONE WIPE. 

The commissioners of the custom-house near Colches- 
ter stopped a trunk supposed to contain contraband 
goods. Their suspicions increased when the owner 
threatened to kill the first who should dare open it, 
declaring that it contained the corpse of his wife. The 
stranger being at length disarmed, they opened the 
coffer, and found inclosed the corpse of a woman. It 
was deposited in a church on suspicion of murder, until 
the husband should give a satisfactory account of himself. 
He was affected to tears, declared that he was a Floren- 
tine nobleman, that having visited England a few years 
since he married the lady whose remains they now 
beheld ; that he had taken her to his own country, and 
had travelled with her to most of the European courts ; 
that being seized during these travels with a fatal 
malady, she had a few moments before her death written 
these words : " I am the Avife of the Reverend Mr. 

G , rector of the church in T , and my last 

request is to be buried there." He added that it was in 
consequence of this last request that he was transporting 
the precious relics of a wife he adored. This declaration 
was found to be true, with the exception of his being a 
Florentine nobleman. He was the Lord Delmany, eldest 
son of Lord Roseberry, of Scotland, and had really mar- 
ried the deceased, ignorant that she was the wife of 

another. The rector of T proved to be still living, 

and when informed that a second husband had brought 
him the corpse of his wife, he gave himself to the violent 
transports of rage. He said that he would render to 
that unfaithful woman the last debt due to those whose 






168 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

faults death had expiated ; but for the husband, if he ever 
saw him, he would poignard him. Lord Delmany pro- 
tested also that he would never lose sight of the body of 
his wife till he had himself deposited the remains in the 
tomb she had chosen, and if the rector performed his 
menaces, he would do him a great service, since he could 
wish for nothing more than to rejoin his beloved wife. 
The rector at length being persuaded that the lord was 
not culpable, consented to see him. They intermingled 
their tears, put on deep mourning, and united in paying 
the last sad duties to her, whose death affected them 
both so differently. 



THE BEAUTIFUL NUN EDITHA. 

Edgar, who succeeded Edroy, king of England, gave 
himself up to love with greater violence than his pre- 
decessor, but was more fortunate in his amours. Capti- 
vated with the beauty of Editha, he forced the gates of 
the monastery and carried off his mistress. Dunstan 
was then governor of the realm. This prelate cruelly 
punished the most trivial fault ; but Edgar had greatly 
contributed to his elevation, and he proportioned the 
punishment to his attachment for Prince Edgar, who 
was condemned not to wear the crown for seven years 
for seducing a nun. Editha was soon permitted to re- 
turn to her monastery. The passion she had inspired 
continued but an instant. The king, visiting the house 
of a gentleman of Andover, became desperately in love 
with his daughter, who was remarkably beautiful. The 
prince declared his passion to the mother of this young 



THE BEAUTIFUL NUN EDITHA. 169 

beauty, and asked permission to pass the time alone with 
her. This request was an order, and it was dangerous 
to disobey it ; yet the virtuous mother could not dis- 
honor her daughter. To free herself from the embar- 
rassment, she sent to the king a girl of her retinue who 
was pleasing in her appearance. Edgar, noticed the de- 
ception, but was not displeased at it, for he made this 
young girl his mistress. 

This singular attachment was ended by the marriage 
of the king. The beauty of Elfrida, daughter and sole 
heiress of the Duke of Devonshire, was extolled through- 
out the kingdom. Edgar, inflamed by these reports, com- 
missioned Ethelwold his favorite to ascertain the truth of 
these reports. He arrived at the duke's, and finding 
her so lovely, forgot the interests of the king, his friend, 
and conceived for her the most violent love. He in- 
formed Edgar that the beauty of Elfrida was far beneath 
the reports, and had no trouble in making him forget her. 

Ethelwold then represented to the king, that as 
Elfrida was not a suitable match for him, he should him- 
self be happy to marry her on account of her birth and 
fortune. Edgar, who loved his favorite, consented to 
his wishes, and the marriage was concluded. He en- 
deavored to conceal from the king the beauty of his wife, 
which he knew would ruin him. He succeeded for some 
time, but some enemies informed Edgar of the fact, and he 
gave Ethelwold notice that he should visit his castle, and 
desired an introduction to his wife. Ethelwold not 
daring to object, only asked permission of the king to 
precede him a few hours. He made use of this time to 
inform his wife of the deception he had used to obtain 
her, and entreated her to conceal a part of her attrac- 
tions. Elfrida promised everything though she did not 

8 



170 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

keep her word ; she did not really feel obliged to Ethel- 
wold for having deprived her of a crown, and knowing 
the power of her charms, did not despair of attaining 
that rank, which she had lost through the artifices of a 
husband. She appeared before the king, with all the 
magnificence and taste that could heighten her beauty, 
and raised at once in the heart of Edgar a most lively 
passion for her, and an implacable desire of vengeance 
toward Ethelwold. He however dissembled his emo- 
tions, and with an unruffled countenance, engaged his 
old favorite to a hunting party in the forest, where 
he killed him with his own hands, and soon after pub- 
licly married Elfrida. 



NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE. 

When the Emperor Francis had determined upon the 
union between Marie Louise and Napoleon, he was not 
ignorant of the animosity borne by his daughter, wife, 
and mother-in-law (Marie Beatrix d'Este) against his 
intended son-in-law. He had not the courage to make 
the first overture to his daughter ; but charged the 
Countess Chanclos, governess to the princess, to use 
every persuasion to prepare her for a near alliance with 
the French emperor. 

The countess, thinking she had found one evening a 
proper occasion for introducing this subject, informed the 
princess that the emperor, her father, had affianced her to 
the Emperor Napoleon Boneparte. No words could do 
justice to the princess's emotions upon hearing this dis- 
closure ; she fell down upon the sofa, screaming, fainting, 



NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE. 



m 



and crying, " No, no, never will I be married to such a 
monster ;" and she forbade the countess, once for all, 
ever to repeat his name in her presence. 

The countess having reported to the emperor the ill- 
success of her overture, his wishes and feelings inclined 
him to undertake the matter himself. On the day and 
hour appointed, accompanied by his daughters, Leopol- 
dina and Clementina, he repaired to the apartments of 
the princess ; and with that parental affection which 
characterizes this sovereign, with candor and sincerity 
stated the necessity of such an alliance, as being the only 
means left to save the imperial family and the whole 
country from subjection, that, should she persist in her 
refusal, they would be obliged to abandon the empire a 
second time to the conqueror. 

This conversation took place in a room, the windows 
of which opened upon the ruined walls and demolished 
fortifications of Vienna. Marie Louise, taking her fatner 
by the hand, led him to the view of what that devoted 
city had already experienced — a scene of wide-extended 
desolation. " Can you," said she, " give the hand of 
your beloved child to such a destroyer? " " True," said 
Francis ; " but the evils which you deplore — all the mis- 
fortunes of the country, arise from the laws of war ; the 
destructive machinations of which will begin with more 
fury than ever, involving the state, and all of us, per- 
haps, in one common ruin." 

The emperor, observing the repugnance of his 
daughter, yet feeling the necessity of this sacrifice, be- 
sought the princess with tears, and with so much impor- 
tunity, that she could no longer resist. "Be composed, 
my beloved father," said she, " and weep not so bitterly, 
my good sisters; you shall be obeyed. From this 



172 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

moment I will do everything that you require of 
me." 

It is asserted by the Countess Chanclos, who was 
present, that when the princess Leopoldina (then "be- 
tween thirteen and fourteen years of age), had seen the 
aversion of her eldest sister to this union, she said she 
would be married herself to the Emperor Napoleon, in 
order to deliver them all from their painful perplexity. 
The Emperor Francis, tenderly smiling, replied, " You 
are a child ; you don't understand what you say." 

The princess Marie Louise was then married by a proxy, 
who was her uncle, the Archduke Charles, to Napoleon ; 
after which she was accompanied by the whole imperial 
family to Branan, the frontier town. There she was 
confided to the care of the queen of Naples, Napoleon's 
sister, and Murat's wife. Proceeding on her way 
through France, the Emperor Napoleon met her near 
Compiegne, and in the open road entered her travelling 
coach. 

In the month of June, 1810, Count Joseph Metternich, 
brother to the Austrian prime-minister, and one of the 
chamberlains that accompanied the princess to Paris, re- 
turned to Vienna, and with other dispatches for the 
imperial family, was charged by the Empress Marie 
Louise, with an autograph letter, in German, for the old 
Count Edling, her quondam governor, of which the fol- 
lowing is a translation : 

•' My dear Count Edling : 

" I have received from you so many testimonies 
of your kind care and affection, that I feel an ardent de- 
sire to inform you by Count Joseph Metternich, of the 
particulars of my present situation. When I left you, 



NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE. 173 

and all my friends in Vienna, I saw the good, people 
plunged in deep sorrow, from the persuasion that I was 
going as a sacrifice to my new destination. I now feel it 
an agreeable duty to assure you, that, during three 
months' residence at this court, I have been, and am, the 
happiest woman in the world. From the first moment I 
saw, and met the Emperor Napoleon, my beloved hus- 
band, he has shown me on every occasion such respectful 
attentions, with every token of kindness and sincere 
friendship, that I should be unjust and ungrateful not to 
acknowledge his noble behavior. 

" Believe not, my dear count that this is written by 
any order from my husband. These sentiments are dic- 
tated from my heart, nor has any one so much as read 
the letter. 

" The emperor, who is at this moment by me, but will 
not know the contents, has desired me to send you, in 
his name, the insignia of the order of the Legion of 
Honor. This he had promised you, as a mark of his 
high esteem for you. 

" Respecting your wish to visit me at Paris, my hus- 
band and I will be very glad to see and receive you, in 
the month of September, at the Tuileries. We shall by 
that time have returned from a little tour. You will 
then be a witness of my satisfaction, which I cannot 
describe to you in this letter. 

" Adieu, my dear and good Count Edling. Remember 
me to all my beloved family and friends ; tell them that 
I am happy, and that I thank God for this felicity. God 
bless and preserve you, my dear count ; and believe me 
that I remain forever your affectionate 

"Marie Louise. 

" Paris, June 1C, 1810." 



1Y4 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

After the fall of Napoleon, Marie Louise went back to 
Austria and was made Duchess of Parma. She fell in 
love with an Austrian count, who was employed as a 
spy by the government. He had but one eye, and was 
considered one of the ugliest men in all Austria, but he 
possessed remarkable talents and address. Marie Louise 
had several children by this man. In 1847 she visited 
the court of Bavaria, and king Louis told me many anec- 
dotes of her unpleasant eccentricities — such as eating 
with her knife, spitting on the ground, taking snuff, and 
many other vulgarities, which rendered the once beauti- 
ful and accomplished Marie Louise an object almost of 
loathing. She died I believe in 1848. 



OKIGIN OF THE STUART FAMILY. 

When Macbeth, the tyrant of Scotland, had caused 
Banquo to be murdered, his son Fleance fled into 
Wales, and was kindly received by Gryffydh ap Llewel- 
lin, in whose court he was entertained with the warmest 
affection. During this time he became enamored of 
Nest, the daughter of that prince, and violated the laws 
of honor and hospitality, by an illicit connection with 
her, the consequence of which was that she was deli- 
vered of a son, who was called Walter. In revenge for 
so foul an offence, Gryffydh ordered Fleance to be put to 
death, and reduced his daughter to the lowest servile sit- 
uation, for having suffered herself to be dishonored by a 
stranger. As Walter advanced in years, he became dis- 
tinguished for his valor, and an elevated mind. An 
angry dispute having arisen between him and one of his 



ARISTOTLE IN LOVE. 175 

companions, the circumstances of his birth were men- 
tioned by his antagonist in terms of reproach, which 
so irritated the fiery spirit of Walter that he instantly 
killed him ; and, afraid of abiding the consequences of 
the murder, he fled into Scotland. Upon his arrival in 
that kingdom, he insinuated himself among the English 
who were in the train of Queen Margaret, the sister of 
Edgar Etheling. There he soon acquired a general 
esteem by his wisdom and good conduct ; and his abili- 
ties unfolding as they were employed in the public ser- 
vice, he was appointed Lord Steward of Scotland, and 
receiver of the revenues of the realm. From this 
office he and his descendants took the surname of Stuart, 
and from this root sprung the royal power of that name, 
and many illustrious families of Scotland. 



ARISTOTLE IN LOVE. 

There is a curious story extant in the old chronicles, 
that when the charms of a fair damsel had made Alex- 
ander pause in his career of ambition, his tutor and 
guardian, Aristotle, endeavored to arouse anew the 
spirit of the hero, by ridiculing the weakness of love ; 
and this so far took effect as to cause Alexander to 
absent himself from his enchantress. She bewailed her 
fate for some time in solitude, and at length, when she 
could endure the suspense no longer, she forced her 
way into the presence of her lord. Her beauty again 
smiled away the dreams of glory from his mind, and he 
accused Aristotle of having caused his absence. She 
was enraged that the philosopher should interfere with 



176 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

her happiness, and she assured Alexander that she 
would give him proof that Aristotle had no right to 
give such advice, as he was equally himself susceptible 
to the charms of beauty. So the next morning she 
repaired to the lawn before the chamber where Aristotle 
lay, and as she approached the casement, she broke the 
stillness of the air by chanting a love-ditty, the sweet- 
ness of whose wild notes charmed the philosopher from 
his studious page. He stole to the window, and saw a 
form fairer than any image of truth which even his ge- 
nius had invented. 

Her face was uneveiled, and her long flaxen tresses 
strayed negligently down her neck; while her dress, 
like the drapery of an ancient statue, displayed the 
beauty of her form. She loitered about the place, on 
pretence of gathering a branch of a myrtle-tree, which 
she wound about her forehead. When she at length 
perceived that Aristotle eagerly watched her, she stole 
underneath the casement, and, in a voice checked by 
sighs, sang that love detained her there. Aristotle 
drank in the delicious sounds, and gazing again, her 
charms appeared more resplendent than before. Reason 
faintly whispered that he was not born to be loved, and 
that his hair was now white with age, and his forehead 
wrinkled with study. But the damsel carelessly passed 
close to his window, and in the delirium of admiration 
he caught the floating folds of her robe. She affected 
anger, and he avowed his love. She listened to his con- 
fession with an artful surprise of manner, which fanned 
still higher the flame of his heart ; and she answered 
him with reproaches for having sought to draw the love 
of Alexander from her. In the wildness of his admira- 
tion, he swore that he would bring his pupil again at her 



FERDINAND AND ELEANOR. 177 

feet, if she would but confer some sign of favor upon 
himself. She feigned an intention of complying, but 
declared that he must first indulge her in a foolish whim, 
which had long distracted her fancy ; and this was almost 
an insane wish to ride upon the back of a wise man. 
He was by this time so intoxicated with her beauty that 
he could deny her nothing. He immediately threw him- 
self down on his hands and knees, and she at once sat 
upon his back, and urged him forward. They presently 
reached the terrace under the royal windows, and the 
king had a fair view of the singular spectacle. A peal 
of laughter from the windows awoke the philoso- 
pher to a sense of his position ; and when he saw his 
pupil, owned that youth might well yield to love, when 
it had power even to break the frost of age. 



FERDINAND AND ELEANOR. 

Ferdinand IV., king of Portugal, for some time made 
war upon Castile. His excesses began to balance with 
his losses, when love obliged him to conclude a peace, 
that he might give himself wholly up to the object of 
his passion. This was Eleanor, the wife of Don Martin 
de Menezay, of Acunha. The passion of Ferdinand 
grew so violent, and left him so little time for reflection, 
that he resolved to espouse his mistress, in spite of the 
great obstacles that opposed it. The first of these was 
the husband of Eleanor. Ferdinand caused the object 
of his love to be carried off, thinking by this step that 
the marriage would be dissolved. Another obstacle still 



178 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

more formidable, especially in the eyes of politicians, 
remained. By one of the articles of the peace, which 
was concluded with Castile, it was agreed that Ferdi- 
nand should marry a daughter of Henry, the Castilian 
king. The Portuguese monarch, in subscribing to this 
article, did not foresee that his passion for Eleanor would 
be so violent. To gratify it, he earnestly entreated 
Henry to release him from his engagement, and accom- 
panied his request with very advantageous propositions. 
They were accepted, and Ferdinand in the end espoused 
his mistress. 

This marriage excited the most alarming troubles in 
Portugal. The people could not, without indignation, 
see the family of Menezay fill the first place in the state. 
They revolted, and the commotion was so violent, that 
the king found himself obliged to leave Lisbon. Never- 
theless, he took some measures which appeased the 
tumults, and died with the certainty that his crown 
would descend to Beatrix, his daughter by Eleanor. 

This princess had married John, king of Castile ; and 
as she had not yet any children, on the death of Ferdi- 
nand, her father, she was, or at least believed herself, 
sole heir to the crown. John, her husband, went into 
Portugal, to take possession of this brilliant inherit- 
ance ; but love, which first gave rise to his hopes, was 
equally the cause of their disappointment. 

Queen Eleanor, after the death of Ferdinand, lived in 
the most scandalous manner with John Fernandez d'An- 
deyso, count of Oren, her favorite. It is said also, that 
this indecent familiarity commenced during the life of 
the king, although he had sacrificed all for Eleanor. 
The people, who had never approved the marriage of 
this princess, still more irritated by the irregularity of 



THE JUSTICE OF CATO. 179 

her conduct, were outrageous against the Count d'Oren. 
Don Juan, natural brother, or, according to others, 
natural son of Ferdinand, and grand master of a mili- 
tary order, had the address to profit by this circum- 
stance. 

To gain the hearts of the people, he poignarded the 
Count d'Oren, in the presence of the queen. This 
violent action received the greatest applause. Don Juan 
was too artful to openly avail himself of these advan- 
tages. Without appearing to act himself, he raised 
insurmountable obstacles to the wishes of the King of 
Castile, although he had himself engaged that prince to 
come into Portugal. His emissaries, amidst the disor- 
ders that reigned, proposed to give the regency of the 
kingdom to Don Juan, till the brother of Ferdinand, 
who was prisoner in Castile, was in situation to come and 
take the crown. This proposition had all the success 
they could hope for. In short, by imperceptible degrees, 
Don Juan, at the request of the people, received the 
crown of Portugal ; and had the address to wear and to 
defend it. 

They say that Laurent d'Acunha, who took refuge in 
Gallicia, wore in his hat a pair of silver horns, in testi- 
mony of his dishonor, and the intemperance of his king. 



THE JUSTICE OF CATO. 

Titus Flamiistius, who vanquished Philip, king of 
Macedon, who restored liberty to the Greeks made cap- 
tive by that prince, and whose reputation became so 
great by his gallaut actions, had the mortification of see- 



180 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

ing his brother, Lucius Quintius Flaminius, struck out of 
the list of senators without being able to reestablish him, 
in spite of his power and his name. It was Cato the 
Censor who expelled Lucius Flaminius from the senate. 
He affirmed, to justify this act of severity, that Flami- 
nius, when commanding the armies, took with him a 
young woman whom he passionately loved ; and that 
one day at a banquet, she having said that she had given 
up a sight of a combat of gladiators to follow him, 
although she had never seen a man killed, which, how- 
ever, she greatly desired, Flaminius, to please his mis- 
tress, had caused a prisoner, condemned to death, to be 
brought and executed on the spot. Such was the crime 
which Cato laid to the charge of Flaminius. 

Afterwards, Titus Flaminius being censor, forced 
Cato to declare publicly the motives of his conduct 
against his brother. This Cato did boldly ; and, at the 
same time, tendered the oath to the accused. As he 
kept silence, the people believed him guilty, and judged 
that he had merited the mark of infamy. All this irri- 
tated Titus Flaminius against Cato, and rendered him 
his declared enemy. However, some time after, the 
Romans made friends with Lucius, and forced him to sit 
in the public games, with the consuls. 



ANCIENT FREE LOYERS. 

The Fratricilli, otherwise Fratricelles, Begnards or 
Begnines, heretics of the thirteenth century, in Italy, 
had no other object in their institution than to gratify 
with impunity their passions for women. They had for 



ANCIENT FKEE LOVEKS. 181 

their chiefs, religious apostates, who under the pretence 
of spirituality, led an idle, vagabond, and very disor- 
derly life. They say that these new brethren assembled 
in the night ; and after having sung hymns, they extin- 
guished the candles, and took every one the woman 
that chance directed him to. The same reproaches have 
been cast upon several other heretics, and even upon 
Christians in the most enlightened ages of the church. 
The errors of the Fratricilli were prohibited by the 
thirteenth general council at Vienna, under the pontifi- 
cate of Pope Clement V. in the year 1311. Mademoi- 
selle Desjardin, in her Annals of Gallantry, thus relates 
the origin and motives of this heresy : " The gallantries 
of the age having given alarm to husbands of a suspicious 
turn, they increased the number of their spies, insomuch, 
that the commerce between the wives and their gallants 
was broken off. 

" Several young men were much chagrined by this 
reform ; and seeing the eclat of their avowed gallantries 
had occasioned the disaster, they resolved to pursue 
their amours more secretly. They affected to live se- 
cluded, adopted exterior mortification, and formed a 
new order of religion, under the name of the Fratricilli 
or Ferots. They were soon so revered for their apparent 
piety, that they were no more spoken of but as the new 
Anchorites. 

" Some of these suspicious husbands, who were not 
blest with the most chaste wives, had the curiosity to 
visit them. Those who had experienced the most do- 
mestic chagrin, wanted most consolation. Finding the 
conversation of the Fratricilli very edifying, there was 
not one who did not hope, by their charitable remon- 
strances, the entire conversion of their inconstant wives. 



182 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

" They hastened home to give an account of and to 
extol this new institution, and the ladies, regarding all 
pretexts of visiting as so many steps towards liberty, ex- 
pressed an equal desire to see the Fratricilli. Behold 
the brothers then supplied with agreeable visitors, and 
the husbands as content as themselves ; for to establish 
their new empire, the Fratricilli preached nothing but 
conjugal fidelity, the submission of women to their hus- 
bands, and a multitude of other precepts, all calculated 
to produce domestic tranquillity ; and of great edifica- 
tion to heads of families. But, as what was proper to 
say to one, might not be agreeable to the other, they 
exhorted the ladies to visit them in private, to lay, as 
they said, the axe to the root of the trees, and effect their 
entire conversion. They had not great difficulty to 
obtain from the ladies this mark of respect ; since they 
rather preferred to go and hear sermons than not to go 
out at all. The secret instructions of the Fratricilli did 
not appear to them so difficult to follow, as those of their 
ordinary directions; and so they received them with 
docility, and submitted without repugnance." 



AGNES OF NAVARRE. 

Gaston, called Phoebus III., Count of Foix and Vis- 
count of Beam, had married Agnes of Navarre, daughter 
of Philip III. king of Navarre, and of Jeanne of France. 
This union, like many others, was not able to obtain 
Agnes the heart of the prince her husband. He publicly 
kept a mistress, of whom he was extravagantly fond; and 



A.GNES OF NAVARRE. 183 

this passion became so violent, that the countess, who 
probably dared not complain, returned to Navarre. 
Others pretend that the motive of her departure was to 
solicit from the court of Navarre the payment of a sum 
of money, due to Gaston ; and they add, that not having 
succeeded, she dared not return afterwards to her hus- 
band. Charles II., surnamed Le Mauvais, the brother of 
Agnes, then reigned in Navarre. This prince, who, as it 
is well known, by the blackness of his crimes dishonored 
human nature, was not long in rendering the already 
melancholy situation of the countess, his sister, still more 
wretched. Young Gaston, prince of Foix, desirous of 
bringing about a reconciliation between his father and 
Agnes, arrived at the court of Navarre. The king, his 
uncle, received him with all the exterior of tenderness 
and friendship ; he applauded his views, and feigning to 
enter into them gave the young prince a powder, which 
he persuaded him (could he make Phoebus take it) 
would cause his father to abandon his shameful engage- 
ments, and recall Agnes. 

Gaston was virtuous, but young. He tenderly loved 
his mother, and sought nothing more ardently than the 
happiness of seeing her reunited to her husband. He 
had no cause to entertain suspicions of the ill designs of 
Charles. The latter was his uncle, he had overwhelmed 
him with caresses, and no opportunity had yet offered 
for Gaston to unveil his criminal soul. Enchanted with 
the remedy proposed, young Gaston hastened his return 
to the court of his father. He communicated his projects 
and hopes to a natural brother, who had been bred up 
with him, thinking to have interested him in the cause ; 
but his confidant betrayed him, and informed Phoebus 
of all he knew. The powder, of which Gaston was the 



184 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

bearer, was seized, and on being analyzed, was discovered 
to be poison. 

It is easy to conceive the astonishment and despair of 
the young prince, who from his simplicity and unsuspect- 
ing honesty, had nearly committed one of the greatest 
and most unnatural of crimes ; but appearances were 
wholly against him. After being loaded with the most 
cutting reproaches, he was arrested and thrown into a 
close prison, where, some say, he died of grief; others, 
that his father was his executioner. Others again, to 
palliate this crime, assert that the young prince, refusing 
to take nourishment, Phoebus went into his prison, and 
holding a poignard to his throat, threatened to kill him ; 
and, that this being done with vehemence, the poignard 
accidently opened a vein, which occasioned the death of 
the prince. 



A HUSBAND WHO SLEPT WITH ONE EYE OPEN. 

If Mecsenas, as we have said, had cause to complain of 
his wife, he sought to avenge himself upon others ; and 
considering the high degree of favor in which he was, 
it is not surprising that he should succeed. He often 
went to the house of Sulpicius Galba, and he especially 
resorted there after dinner, the time when Galba slept, 
or at least appeared to do so, for an anecdote is related 
that proves he did not always sleep. Having one day 
invited Mecsenas to dinner, he fell asleep after the repast 
while the favorite of the prince was paying court rather 
too assiduously to his wife, or rather, to use the expres- 
sions of the translator of Plutarch, he rested his head 



A LOVE-SICK KING. 185 

upon a cushion, as appearing to be asleep, that he might 
see Mecaenas playing off the artillery of the eyes upon 
his wife. A valet, who believed that his master really 
slept, thought he might profit by the circumstance, and 
took a bottle of excellent wine. " Rascal !" said Galba 
to him ; " do not imagine that I sleep for every one." 



A LOYE-SICK KING. 

When the ambassadors of Poland came to inform 
Henry III., then duke of Anjou, of his election to the 
crown of Poland, and ardently to request him to show 
himself to the people, who expected it with impatience, 
Charles IX., his brother, appeared still more anxious 
than the Polanders that he should leave the kiugdom of 
France. He was extremely jealous of the friendship 
which the queen mother had for Henry, and the great 
reputation he enjoyed in the realm, from his quality of 
generalissimo of the troops, and from the victories he 
had gained. But the more he expressed his impatience 
for Henry's departure, the more the queen mother em- 
ployed artifices and care to detain this son, who was her 
favorite. Besides, love influenced the King of Poland to 
stay. He adored the Princess of Conde ; and, although 
she gave him not the least encouragement, but on the 
contrary, discovered the most inflexible virtue, Henry 
was not able to absent himself from her, because the 
Duke of Guise, who had married the sister of this 
princess, and who was very desirous of detaining Henry 
in the kingdom, on account of the great influence he had 
over his mind, flattered him with the hope of softening 



186 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

his sister-in-law. Charles IX., who could not believe an 
amour was capable of detaining the King of Poland and 
who, from this delay suspected treachery, was seriously 
incensed against the queen mother, and at length 
obliged his brother to go and take possession of a king- 
dom, which reputation had gained him, but which he 
would willingly have resigned for a favor from the 
Princess of Conde. This passion pursued Henry into 
Poland, and inspired him with an unconquerable aversion 
to the crown he wore. Flying the world, he remained 
continually shut up in his closet, where he had no other 
consolation than in writing to France, sometimes two 
dozen of letters, with his own hand, and in discoursing 
with two or three favorites on the cause of his unhappi- 
ness. 

After the death or Charles IX. Henry III. returned to 
France, more enamored than ever of the princess. His 
passion became even so ardent that he took the resolu- 
tion of annulling the marriage of his mistress, on account 
of the heresy of her husband, and of espousing her. But 
this was not the intention of the queen mother, who 
wanted always to reign, and feared that queen, who 
would have possessed the heart of the king, would 
deprive her of her power. She could scarcely have 
found a resource against this misfortune, had not the 
death of the princess delivered her from her apprehen- 
sion. Her death, which did not appear natural, nearly 
occasioned that of the king. When informed of it he 
fell back, as cold and immovable as if he had been 
deprived of life. It was with great difficulty he was pre- 
vailed upon to take nourishment ; but it was some time 
before he could endure to look upon any but sad faces, 
and melancholy objects. He did not appear in public, 



A LOVE-SICK KING. 187 

except covered with the testimonials of his grief; wear- 
ing, even upon the trimmings of his clothes, and npon 
the ribbons of his shoes, little death's heads. 

The year that the king returned to Poland, says Bran- 
tome, there arose a quarrel between M. de Crillon and 
d'Entrangues, two brave and valiant gentlemen, who, chal- 
lenging each other, were on the point of fighting, when 
the king forbade them, by M. de Rambouillet, one of his 
captains of the guard then on duty ; and commanded M. de 
Neves and the Marshal de Rets, to effect a reconciliation. 
Queen Catharine de Medicis sent for them in the evening 
to her chamber, and as their quarrel related to two ladies 
of her suite, she commanded them in a positive manner, 
and afterwards with all softness, to make her the arbi- 
tress of their difference ; and since she had done them 
the honor to interfere, and since the princes, captains, 
etc., had failed in accommodating matters, she would 
have the glory of reconciling them, and make them 
embrace each other without any further form ; and tak- 
ing all upon herself, by her prudence, the subject of the 
dangerous quarrel, which somewhat affected the honor 
of those two ladies, was never known nor made public. 

The league which was formed in France, under the 
reign of Henry III., and of which he was at last the vic- 
tim, tended only to depose this prince, and to obtain the 
crown for the Princess of Lorraine. The Duchesse de 
Montpensier appeared one of the most zealous ; her 
hatred was so violent, that she said publicly, her greatest 
pleasure would be to hold the head of Henry, to shave 
it, and make him a monk. It was she, it is said, who 
instigated James Clement to the horrible assassination of 
this prince ; and it is said that this vindictive woman 
went so far as to grant Clement the last favor to encour- 



W 



188 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

age him. If we seek the cause of a hatred so implaca- 
ble, it was, says Mezeray, because he (Henry III.) had 
offended this widow, by a discourse which discovered 
some secret defects of her person ; a more unpardonable 
offence in the eyes of a woman, than that which is offered 
to her honor. 

Henry, before he ascended the throne, was distin- 
guished in several battles; the people were much sur- 
prised, on his return from Poland, not to recognize the 
same prince ; he was constantly engaged in playing with 
the little dogs of Boulogne, which cost him at least a 
hundred thousand crowns a year, and with a paroquet 
which he carried wherever he went. 



THE POWER OF LOVE. 

SHOWING HOW LOVE ALMOST PLACED THE SON OF A 
JEWESS UPON THE THRONE OF ENGLAND. 

The bloody disputes which so long divided the 
Houses of York and Lancaster, under the name of the 
Red and White Rose, are well known. Henry VII., 
by the victory he obtained over Richard III., and by 
his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV., 
blended in his person the rights of both houses, and 
put an end to the disputes. In the meanwhile, Marga- 
ret of York, Dowager of Burgundy, could not, without 
sensible mortification, behold the throne of England 
filled by a prince of the house of Lancaster. Her hatred, 
which was extreme, notwithstanding the accommoda- 
tions that had taken place, induced her to embrace and 



THE POWER OP LOVE. 180 

seek out every opportunity to annoy Henry ; nor did 
the ill success of the young Simnel, whom she had insti- 
gated and upheld, discourage her. 

Richard III., to ascend the throne, had caused his 
two nephews, the sons of Edward IV., to be massacred. 
The Duchess of Burgundy, inspired by the hatred she 
nad sworn to the House of Lancaster, caused a report 
to be circulated that one of the two princes had escaped 
the cruelty of his uncle ; but it was necessary to find a 
young man, who, by his age and countenance, might pass 
for the prince, and yet be possessed of an understanding 
capable of supporting the character. Edward IV. had 
been one of the handsomest and most gallant men of his 
time, and it is well known that his gallantry facilitated 
his elevation to the throne. Beauty, in whatever state 
he found it, made the most lively impression on him. 
John Osbeck, a Jew, who had embraced Christianity, 
had occasion to come into England. The beauty of his 
wife was not long before it procured him the notice and 
protection of Edward. The favor he enjoyed became 
so signal, that the prince stood god-father to the Jew's 
child, whom he named Peters, which, being corrupted, 
was afterwards called Perkin. 

It was generally believed that Edward was the father 
of this child ; and it is said that he bore the most per- 
fect resemblance to that prince. This young man the 
Dowager of Burgundy endeavored to impose upon the 
public for one of the sons of Edward, who had, she said, 
" been preserved from the barbarity of Richard, and by 
this means she hoped to dethrone Henry VII." It 
does not appertain to our subject to enter into a detail 
of this singular conspiracy, which shook the throne of 
Henry. We shall content ourselves with observing that 



190 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

Perkin played his part with such address that he persua- 
ded several persons he was really the son of Edward ; 
and if he had not had to struggle against a prince as wise 
and clear-sighted as Henry probably was, we should have 
seen the throne of England filled by the son of a Jewess 
of Tournay. After having attempted two descents into 
England without success, Perkin landed in Scotland, and 
implored the protection of James IV., who then reigned. 
He found his kingdom most aptly disposed to favor his 
designs ; the people detested the English. James, pre- 
pared by the King of France and the Duchess of Bur- 
gundy, hesitated not to acknowledge Perkin as the 
Duke of York, and treated him as such ; and love at 
length conspired still more to favor this impostor. 

There was, at the court of Scotland, the young 
Countess of Huntley, Catherine Gordon, a relation to 
the king, whose beauty, virtue, and wealth excited the 
desires of the greatest noblemen of the realm. Till 
then insensible to the vows that were offered- at her 
shrine, she was struck with the agreeable person and 
manners of Perkin. The same dart which made an 
impression on the heart of this young beauty, equally 
inflamed that of the false prince; he even forgot, 
during some time, his interests, so wholly engrossed was 
he by his passion, and he was so happy as not to sigh 
long in vain. The king, who penetrated into the senti- 
ments of the lovers, delayed not to favor them ; the Earl of 
Huntley thought himself too much honored by an alli- 
ance with one who was shortly to be king of England ; 
and the marriage was soon after concluded. 

Perkin, in possession of a treasure of grace and 
beauty, added to his party all the family of his wife, 
and the king found himself obliged to enter more 



THE POWER OF LOVE. 191 

warmly into the interests of a man who was now allied 
to him. 

These promising appearances, after all, ended in a few 
hostile incursions into England. James, undeceived by 
the ambassadors of Henry, made a truce with that 
prince, and obliged Perkin to leave his kingdom. He 
embarked for Ireland, and returned from there into the 
province of Cornwall, where the people revolted in his 
favor. Supported by a troop without discipline and 
without arms, he was struck with a panic on the sight 
of the numerous and warlike army which Henry 
opposed to him. Forgetful of the character he was to 
support, he ignominously fled from the field, and took 
refuge in an asylum, from whence he was drawn upon 
promise of his life. The countess, his wife, who accom- 
panied him, was arrested, and both were conducted to 
Henry. That prince, it is said, became enamored of the 
young countess. What gave rise to this opinion was 
that he treated her with all the respect due to her birth, 
although she was the wife of a man who had attempted to 
dethrone him ; nor was he ever able to resolve upon 
sending her back to Scotland, which it seemed he ought 
to have done. It is believed also that this passion con- 
tributed to the death of Perkin, at least as much as po- 
litical interest. 

This impostor having made a public confession, in 
which he discovered his birth and intrigues, was impri- 
soned in the Tower ; but the desire of liberty made him 
form some projects to regain it. This cause, or that we 
have just spoken of, determined Henry to take his life, 
and he was hung at Tyburn in the year 1499. Two 
years after, Henry, upon the marriage of one of his 
daughters to the king of Scotland, had a fine opportu- 



192 ANECDOTES OP LOTE. 



nity of sending back the widow of Perkin, but he did 
not do it, which confirmed the suspicions that he enter- 
tained a passion for her. 



JEALOUS? OF PRINCESS JANE. 

Ppiilip, son of the Emperor Maximilian I., married 
Jane, daughter of Ferdinand the catholic, and of Isa- 
bella. This princess tenderly loved Philip, but could not 
entirely fix his heart. The discoveries she unfortunately 
made of the infidelities of this prince, whom she adored, 
rendered her unhappy during the rest of her days. 

In a voyage which Philip made into Spain, he left Jane 
there, and returned alone into the Low Countries. The 
queen, soon after, finding she was not able to support 
the absence of her husband, resolved to rejoin him, and 
absolutely departed for that purpose in the depth of 
winter. What was her astonishment, to find in Philip 
only coldness and indifference. Some courtiers were so 
indiscreet as to inform her that her husband was capti- 
vated by the charms of a lady, whom they named ; ad- 
ding, that he particularly admired the beauty of her 
hair. Jane resolved to see her ; and, giving herself up 
to all the fury of the most violent jealousy, caused her 
first to be shaved, and afterwards, to destroy, as much 
as she was able that beauty which caused her chagrin, 
scarified her face. Philip, enraged at this violence, had 
no longer any consideration for the princess ; he treated 
her with contempt, even in public, loaded her with 
the most cutting reproaches; and was long before he 
would either speak to or even see her. 



THE BEAUTIFUL SLAVE ABABA. 193 

Ferdinand and Isabella being informed of this affair, 
fell sick with grief, and Isabella died. In her will she 
endeavored to revenge herself upon her son-in-law, by 
nominating the Arch Duchess Jane sole governor of her 
states ; and in case she was not able, or refused to un- 
dertake the charge, she willed that Ferdinand, her 
father, should take upon him the government of the 
realm. 

Philip, it is true, found means to render this clause, so 
injurious to himself, useless ; he went into Castile, where 
he was received with open arms, but soon after died. 
Jane was so inconsolable for the loss of this prince, who, 
in spite of his inconstancy, she tenderly loved, that she 
went out of her mind, and was confined in a tower, 
where she passed her time in running after cats. She 
lived to an extreme age, not dying till the year 1555. It 
is known that she was the mother of Charles V. 



THE BEAUTIFUL SLAVE ABABA. 

Jesid II., Caliph of the Saracens, who succeeded his 
cousin Omar, towards the year 721, passionately loved 
one of his slaves, named Ababa. Being at play with 
her one day, he threw something into her mouth which 
strangled her. The caliph, abandoning himself to the 
deepest despair, continually uttered the name of his dear 
Ababa ; he caused her corpse to be transported into his 
apartment, and notwithstanding the noisome smell, and 
the horror of such a spectacle, consented only, upon the 
remonstrances and prayers of his brother, to have it 
interred His grief, instead of diminishing, became 





194 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

more violent. Constantly engaged with the idea of an 
object he had so tenderly cherished, he had the corpse 
of Ababa dug up, and was so struck to behold in that 
horrid state a face formerly so charming, that he went 
out of his mind, and died a few days after. 



A POETICAL DON QUIXOTE. 

The strangest of all the gallants of the middle ages, 
was a gifted poet by the name of Peter Yidal, who might 
be justly called the Don Quixote of the troubadors. It 
was the custom of almost every rich and noble family of 
those days to have a troubadour within the castle, and 
almost every fine lady had her own poet and troubadour 
to sing her charms. Vidal was adopted by a powerful 
and noble lord, named Barral. Adelaide, the wife of the 
viscount, was young and very beautiful, and of course 
Yidal was bound to fall in love with her. Barral, far 
from being jealous, granted him the freest access to the 
society of his wife — gave him arms and habits like his 
own, and amused himself with the follies his wife's love 
had inspired. The viscountess, whose praises he sang, 
joined in this pastime, and pretended to be in love with 
Yidal. One day when she was sleeping alone, Yidal 
stept softly to her couch, and kneeling down by her side, 
gave her a kiss. Adelaide awakening, took him at first 
for her husband, his dress being exactly the same, but 
instantly perceiving her mistake, she cried out with all 
her might. Her women, who were in the next room, 
ran immediately to her assistance, and our poet made a 
precipitate retreat. The viscountess sent immediately 



A POETICAL DON QUIXOTE. 195 

for her husband, and entreated he would revenge himself 
on the insolence of Vidal. But he only laughed and 
scolded his wife for making such a noise about a kiss. 
But the poet found it necessary to fly from the wrath of 
his beloved, and he embarked for Genoa, where he wrote 
a song expressing his regret for leaving Provence, 
beginning with this paragraph : " O how delicious is the 
air that blows from France ! So dearly do I love that 
charming country, that when I only hear it named, I am 
ready to swoon for joy ! I groan in exile for my fair 
one ! Why was not I on my guard against so lovely a 
creature ! But her heart to me is that of a lioness. 
This determines me on a pilgrimage ; for here I languish, 
and I die." 

Agreeably to this resolution he followed Richard I., 
king of England, into Palestine, where his deeds were 
those of a madman. But poor Vidal could never rest 
till he had assurance that he was forgiven by the vis- 
countess whom he so much loved. She promised to par- 
don him, and her husband presenting the culprit poet to 
her, said, " You must, now you have forgiven him, give 
him that kiss which he attempted to steal." But this 
she would not do ; and in a short time he so far forgot 
her as to become completely mad with love for a beau- 
tiful lady called Louve de Penantier. He caused him- 
self to be called loup, or wolf, in honor of her, and 
engaged himself to submit to all the perils of being 
hunted in a wolf's skin for her sake. In this disguise the 
shepherds with their mastiffs and greyhounds drove him 
into the mountains, nor would he allow the dogs to be 
called off till he was nearly dead. The lady and her 
husband took care of his cure, but they ridiculed his 
lolly. Nor were these all the extravagances of this poet. 



196 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

On the death of his Lord Redmond he gave unheard of 
proofs of affliction; he dressed himself in the deepest 
mourning, cut off the ears and tails of his horses, cropt 
his own hair, let his beard and his nails grow to an 
immoderate length, and required all his servants to do 
the same. 

Alphonso, king of Aragon, came into Provence with a 
numerous retinue when Yidal was in this plight. The 
king and his barons who really loved Vidal, besought him 
to resume his gaiety and dissipate his grief by a song. 
He harkened to the request of the king, and the monarch 
gave the poet the same habits he wore himself, which 
was the highest compliment royalty could bestow. 



THE STORY OF LOTHARIO. 

Lothaeio II. was the son of Lothario I., emperor and 
grandson of Louis le Debonnaire. He had, as his patri- 
monial estate, the provinces to which were given the 
title of Lorraine. This prince married Theutberge, 
sister of Hubert, duke of a part of Burgundy. Soon 
after, he conceived the most violent passion for Wald- 
rade, and retired with her into Alsace, to his castle of 
Morleim, where he had by her a son named Hugues. 
Theutberge, seeing herself despised, forgotten, and even 
in fear of her life, took refuge with her brother in Bur- 
gundy. 

Upon this, to gloss over his proceedings against the 
princess, with an appearance of justice, Lothario had 
her accused of a criminal commerce with her brother, 



THE STORY OF LOTHARIO. 197 

before marriage. The unfortunate Theutberge, consci- 
ous of her innocence, to manifest it offered to submit to 
the proof of boiling water ; and as her dignity dispensed 
with her undergoing this trial herself, the person who 
was substituted in her place drew forth his hand unin- 
jured. This prodigy (which was even then considered 
one) made the deepest impression upon the people, 
already vehemently incensed at the scandal which Lo 
thario had spread. The prince himself appeared to be 
affected; he recalled Theutberge, and gave Waldrade 
an abbey to console her. 

Absence, which is sometimes an excellent remedy for 
love, served only to increase the passion of Lothario, 
and, determined to satisfy it without control, he, by dint 
of ill treatment and menaces, made Theutberge declare 
before the archbishops of Cologne and Treves, and two 
abbots, that she was really guilty of the crime of which 
she had been accused. In consequence of this confes- 
sion, it was decided in two councils, held at Aix-la- 
Chapelle, and at Metz, that the marriage of Theutberge 
was null, and that the king was at liberty so take another 
wife. It will be supposed that it was not long before he 
availed himself of this permission. He soon after pub- 
licly married Waldrade. In the meanwhile, Theutberge, 
whom fear had influenced to make an avowal which dis- 
honored her, found means to escape to France ; where 
she appealed to Pope Nicholas I. from all the proceed- 
ings had against her. This pontiff, delighted with an 
opportunity to augment the power of the Holy See, held 
a council, in which he deposed the archbishops of Treves 
and Cologne, and set aside the acts of the assembly at 
Metz. These proceedings did not in the least diminish 
the passion of Lothario, who still kept his mistress. A 



198 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

short time after, however, fearing the menaces of an ex- 
communication, he recalled Theutberge, sent back her 
rival, and promised to have no further connection with her. 
He had promised more than he was able to perform; 
for his mistress, who had escaped from the hands of the 
legate, who had carried her in triumph to Rome, regained 
her empire, and the queen again saved herself in France. 

This unfortunate princess, wearied with combating so 
many attacks, being informed that they were preparing 
to accuse her of adultery, and suspecting that they 
would easily find false witnesses to attest this calumny, 
wrote to the Pope requesting permission to be separated 
from Lothario, and to go and finish her days at Rome. 
Nicholas was inflexible ; he refused to yield to the en- 
treaties of Theutberge, excommunicated Waldrade, and 
threatened Lothario. This prince, knowing well the 
effect which might be produced by an excommunication, 
and fearing that Charles le Chauve, king of France, and 
Louis, king of Germany, his brothers, would profit by 
the occasion to seize upon his states, to prevent this in- 
convenience, had an interview with King Louis, and en- 
gaged him in his interests. 

Adrian II., who succeeded Nicholas, appeared at first 
rather more favorable to Lothario. It is true he refused 
Theutberge, who was at Rome, the separation she asked, 
and even sent her back into Lorraine ; but he revoked 
the excommunication of Waldrade, being assured by the 
emperor that she was reformed. Lothario then, to put 
an end to a dispute which had continued so long, took 
the resolution of going to Rome to justify himself. 
There, at a mass, which the pope celebrated, he took 
the communion, and in that moment, it is said, promised 
with an oath to have no further commerce with Wal- 



SINGULAR AMBITION OF A MISTRESS. 199 

drade. It is added, that this oath not being more sin- 
cere than the rest, he returned, filled with impatience to 
meet his lover, and fell sick at Plaisance, where he died. 



SINGULAR AMBITION OF A MISTRESS. 

A Persian officer, discontented with his situation, 
went into the Indies ; entered the service of Jehanguir, 
the great Mogul, and became general of his armies. 
He had now reason to be satisfied with his fortune, if 
sated ambition could have bounded his desires. This 
Persian was so imprudent as to aid and favor a conspira- 
cy formed against his master, at the head of which was 
Koufrow, the eldest son of the great Mogul. The 
prince was so happy as to discover the conspiracy. The 
general was thrown into prison, waiting till he should 
undergo the punishment his guilt merited. His wife 
and daughter threw themselves at the foot of the throne 
to solicit his pardon, when Jehanguir was so charmed 
with the beauty of the daughter, that he granted her 
request, and made her his favorite. It appears that she 
had as much address as beauty; soon perceiving the 
ascendency she had gained over the king, she made use 
of it to satisfy her ambition in a very singular manner. 
She obtained permission of Jehanguir to exercise the 
royal authority during four and twenty hours. Being 
previously prepared for this moment, and the masters of 
the mint being in her secret, she caused, during the 
short space of her reign, two millions of gold and silver 
rupees to be struck ; every piece bore on one side the 
figure of one of the twelve sisrns of the zodiac : and on 



200 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

the other, the name of Jehanguir, with that of Nour- 
mahal, the name of the princess. We might easily bear 
with the weaknesses of kings, if their favorites had no 
other ambition than that of Nourmahal. This was in 
1620. 



THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS. 

The late Emperor Nicholas was one of the most gal- 
lant monarchs of modern times, in the new sense of that 
word. But there was the real old spirit of gallantry in 
his blood. His marriage with the charming princess of 
Prussia had a pleasant piece of gallantry in it. It is 
customary when a monarch is to be married to have the 
whole affair arranged by the courts of the marrying 
parties. But not so with Nicholas. He determined to 
pick out his own wife, and he went rambling about 
among the courts of Europe in search of a woman who 
had those peculiar personal charms which could captivate 
his heart. At last he found such a one in the person of 
the young and beautiful princess of Prussia. At her 
father's court he tarried long enough to become well 
acquainted with her qualities of mind and heart ; and 
one day at dinner, he rolled a small ring in a piece of 
bread, and handed it to the princess, saying to her in an 
under tone, " if you will accept my hand put this ring 
on your finger." And that is the way he popped the 
question. She took no time to deliberate, hi the fashion 
of cunning prudes, but suffered her heart to tell the 
truth at once, and instantly put the ring on her Auger 
Nicholas was one of the finest looking men I ei er saw, 



LOVES OF HENRY II. 201 

and at the time of his marriage, he and his spouse were 
considered the handsomest couple in Europe. 

Notwithstanding the innumerable little gallantries 
of Nicholas, he was always kind, attentive and affection- 
ate to his wife ; and she had the wisdom and amiability 
never to annoy him with any of the reproaches of 
jealousy. 

In 1830 she lost her beauty by a most singular freak 
of nature occasioned by a fright she received at the mo- 
ment when the emperor rushed into the presence of the 
infuriated mob that sought his life, and commanded them 
to " down on their knees " before him. 

It was after this that Nicholas fell in love with the 
young and beautiful Nelhydoff, one of the maids of honor 
to the empress. The empress, though perfectly aware 
of this affair, always treated Nelhydoff with the greatest 
respect in public. This love affair was terminated only 
by the death of Nicholas, but it did not prevent him 
from numerous other intrigues. 



LOVES OF HENRY II, 

Eleanor of Guyenne, who was divorced from Louis 
VII., king of France, married Henry II., king of Eng- 
land, less scrupulous than the French monarch. If he 
had not reason to reproach Eleanor with the same frailty 
that Louis had, he was not more happy; the queen was 
haughty, imperious, and above all, extremely jealous. 
Henry, whom interest, more than love, had deter- 
mined upon this marriage, loved a young person of sin- 
gular beauty, and to this advantage she joined a soft and 



202 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

amiable disposition, and a refined and cultivated under- 
standing. Her name was Clifford, to which her charms 
had added " Rosamond, or the wonder of the world." 
The king, to avert the fury of Eleanor, caused a palace 
to be built for her at Woodstock, in the form of a 
labyrinth ; the apartments of which were impenetrable 
to those who were not perfectly acquainted with the 
windings. But in spite of these precautions, Eleanor 
discovered the apartment of the charming Clifford, and, 
after having loaded her with the most cruel reproaches, 
with her own hand she presented her a cup of poison, 
which she had purposely prepared, and made her drink 
it ; reserving to herself the barbarous pleasure of seeing 
her expire. The tomb of this unfortunate beauty, says 
an author, is to be seen in the monastery of Oxen with 
this Latin inscription : 

"Hoc jacet in turnulo RosaMundi, non Rosa Munda, 
Xon redolet, sed olet, quae redolere solet." 

The same author adds that it is believed that this 
epitaph was the work of Eleanor. 

It was the jealousy of this princess which caused so 
great a division in the family of Henry. Tormented by 
this restless passion, she imparted her grievances to 
Geoffrey and Richard, her two sons. Having softened 
them by her tears and caresses, she excited their ambi- 
tion, by persuading them they ought already to insist 
upon the king's ceding to them some part of his vast do- 
minions ; and in making them believe that their father 
was so infatuated with the charms of some beautiful 
woman, that he had formed the design of disinheriting 
them, to advance his natural sons. These young princes 
thus seduced by the caresses and tears of their mother, 



KING JOHN. 203 

withdrew into France, where they were certain of find- 
ing a support, and where Eleanor had promised to join 
them. This was in reality her intention ; but she was 
arrested under the disguise she had taken, and im- 
prisoned, by order of the king. To increase the disorder 
which reigned in the royal family, Henry imprudently 
demonstrated that he was desperately in love with Alix, 
sister of Philip Augustus, king of France, who was bred 
up in England till she was of an age to espouse prince 
Richard his son. The king refused to conclude this 
marriage, as he was himself captivated with the young 
princess. Some historians also declare, that she gave 
certain proofs of her frailty, by the birth of a son she 
had by Henry. However, Richard made this a pretence 
to take up arms against his father. This revolt, sup- 
ported by the king of France, was unfortunately too 
successful ; Henry died of grief. 



KING JOHN. 

John, son of Henry II., king of England, succeeded 
to the crown after the death of Richard, his brother. 
He advantageously concluded a war with France — a war 
the more dangerous as Philip Augustus, king of France, 
appeared only to take up arms in support of the rights 
of Arthur, duke of Brittany, the nephew of John, who 
had more legitimate pretentions than his uncle to the 
crown of England. By this peace, John was in a situa- 
tion to enjoy the greatest tranquillity! but love plunged 
him in an abyss of misfortunes. 



204 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

This prince had become desperately in love with Isa- 
bella, daughter of Aimon Taillefer, Count of Angou- 
leme. His passion should have been extinguished by 
the insurmountable obstacles which opposed it. He had 
married the heiress of the house of Gloucester, and his 
wife still lived. Isabella, the object of his love, was her- 
self married to Hugues le Brun, Count de la Marche. 
It is true that his tender age had not yet permitted the 
consummation of their nuptials, but in awaiting it, they 
had already put her into the hands of the count, her 
husband. John, although passionately in love, could 
not reasonably hope to surmount all these difficulties ; 
but his passion would acknowledge no obstacles. So 
he persuaded the Count of Angouleme to convey his 
daughter from the count, her husband ; and he himself 
divorced the queen, upon some frivolous pretences, and 
married Isabella, without deigning to trouble himself 
either with the menaces of the pope, who stormed 
against such presumption, or with the just resentment 
of the Count de la Marche, who soon found the means 
to punish his powerful and audacious rival. 

In short, this lord, and the Count d'Ev, his brother, 
excited a revolt in Poitou and Normandy. John, who 
was in want of his barons to quell these troubles, found 
in them the greatest resistance, having rendered himself 
odious in the eyes of the people. To all this was added 
Arthur, who renewed his pretensions, and was sup- 
ported by the King of France. The murder of this 
young prince but increased the enemies of John, who 
was the author of it. Surrounded and embarrassed on 
every side, the King of England was obliged to humble 
himself before his barons, by granting them that famous 
charter, which, in the end, occasioned such civil 



ILDIBAD. 205 

wars. At length he threw himself into the arms of the 
court of Rome, who made him purchase its protection 
by forcing him to submit to humiliations most unworthy 
of majesty; among other things he had to declare him- 
self vassal to the pope, who was then Innocent III. 
The English barons, disdaining the meanness of John, 
gave the crown to Louis VIII., son of Philip Augustus. 
The detail of all these events would exceed the 
bounds we have prescribed ourselves. We shall only 
observe, that after the death of John, Isabella, his widow, 
married the Count de la Marche, her first husband. This 
was in 1253. 



ILDIBAD. 

Vitiges had been elected king of the Goths, in Italy, 
in room of Theodat, whom he had massacred ; he was 
not able himself to resist Belisarius, and was conducted 
to Constantinople by that famous general. The Goths, 
who had not the least idea of giving up their liberty, 
immediately offered their crown to Uraias, nephew of 
Vitiges, and, upon his refusal, gave it to Ildibad, who 
accepted it. The wife of Uraias, illustrious by her 
birth and beauty, accompanied with a magnificent suite, 
and superbly habited, one day showed a public contempt 
for the wife of Ildibad, who entered the bath dressed 
with great simplicity. The wife of the king, not being 
able to overlook the affront she had received, made the 
most bitter complaints to her husband, and influenced 
him so much by her tears and caresses, that she j revailed 



206 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

on him to destroy TTraias, under pretence that he held 
some intelligence with the enemy. 

This murder was quickly revenged. One of Ildibad's 
guards, named Vilas, was passionately in love with a 
certain young woman, and upon the point of marrying 
her, when the king, perhaps without design, gave her to 
another, during the absence of Vilas. This officer, des- 
perate on his return to find his intended in the arms of a 
rival, resolved, in the blood of the emperor, to wash 
away the affront he had received. He availed himself of 
a day when the prince gave a great feast, and killed him 
while he was putting his hand on his plate. 



A GALLANT TROUBADOUR. 

The author of the life of Petrarch relates an interest- 
ing story of the unsuccessful love of Richard de 
Barbesien, a poet and troubadour of no mean genius, who 
fell in love with a rich baroness, who was the wife of 
Geoffroi de Tours. She received the poet's professions 
with pride, as there was nothing she wished for so much 
as to be celebrated by a poet of his genius ; but as he 
soon discovered that this was her only object in encour- 
aging his passion, he complained bitterly of her rigor, 
and finally quitted her for another lady, who after en- 
couraging him, expressed the greatest disdain for his 
caprice. " Go," said she, " you are unworthy of any 
woman's love. You are the falsest man in the world, to 
abandon a lady so lovely, so amiable. Go, since you 
have forsaken her, you will forsake any other." 

The poet took her advice, and returned and sought 



A GALLANT TROUBADOUR. 207 

the grace of Madame Tours again, but she scornfully 
refused him, and in the rage of his disappointment he 
composed the following invective against women. " To 
seek for fidelity in women is to seek for holy things 
among the carcasses of dead and putrid dogs — to confide 
in them is the confidence of the dove in the kite. If they 
have no children, they bestow a supposed offspring, that 
they may inherit the dowery, which belongs only to 
mothers. "What you love the most, their art will cause 
you to hate ; and when they have filled up the measure 
of their iniquity, they laugh at their disorders and justify 
their guilt." 

Overwhelmed with despair, our troubadour retired 
into a wood, where he built himself a cottage, resolving 
never more to appear in the world unless he could be re- 
stored to the favor of Madame de Tours. All the 
knights of the country were touched with his fate. 
When two years had elapsed they came and besought 
him to abandon his retreat, but he remained firm to his 
first resolution. At last all the knights and ladies assem- 
bled, and went to beseech Madame Tours to have pity 
for him ; but she answered that she would never grant 
this request till a hundred ladies and a hundred knights, 
who were truly in love, came to her with hands joined, 
and knees bent, to solicit the pardon of Barbesien. On 
this condition she promised to forgive him. This news 
restored hope to the poet, and gave vent to his griefs in 
a poem, which began with this paragraph : 

" As an elephant who is overthrown cannot be raised 
up till a number of elephants rouse him by their cries, so 
neither should I have been relieved from my distress, if 
these loyal lovers had not obtained my grace, by be- 
seeching it of her who alone can bestow felicity." 



208 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

The ladies and knights assembled according to the 
number prescribed ; they went to intercede for this un- 
fortunate lover, and they obtained for him the pardon 
promised. But Madame de Tours died soon after ; and 
her troubadour, not being able to live in a country 
which called to his mind the sufferings he had under- 
gone, and the loss of his beloved mistress, withdrew into 
Spain, where he ended his days. 



THE DUKE OF IRELAND. 

The Duke of Ireland, first minister and favorite of 
Richard, King of England, by chance only obtained this 
desirable post. Fortune, by whom he had been so 
highly favored, procured him a wife beyond all his ex- 
pectations ; this was Philippa de Coucy, daughter of M. 
de Coucy, the first nobleman of France, and of Isabella, 
daughter of King Edward, and in consequence niece to 
Richard. To this illustrious birth Philippa united an 
immense portion, and a virtue which rendered her the 
admiration of all England. Such was the situation of 
the Duke of Ireland, when love overturned the brilliant 
edifice, which blind fortune had raised. This favorite, 
forgetting what he owed to the merits of his illustrious 
wife, became enamored of a German lady, maid of honor 
to the Queen of England ; and his passion grew so vio- 
lent, that to satisfy it he resolved to divorce his wife. 
The king had the weakness to approve the unworthy 
proceedings of his favorite, and they seized the pretext 
of consanguinity, to have the first marriage annulled at 
Rome ; after which the duke espoused his mistress. His 



THE LOVES OF LOUIS T 

mother, the Countess o" Agnt 

just conduct, resolved to en*' 

of her son ; and the E 

the duke, profited by tin 

against him. They ra 

head the dukes of "York ar 

uncles. The Duke of I eland 

by the rebels, had no othf 

Richard, a short time 

abandon his ministers t 

ally banished them, and eoiifiscai 

Duke of Ireland retired h 

first well received, on the 

and where he made a great fign e wi 

preserved from the wreck o\ lis 

his wealth was dissipated ; the he use c 

against him, and gave him so nru'-a L 

tired into Brabant, where he died 

obscurity and contempt, in 1389. 



THE LOVES OF LOUIS IU 

We may refer to the beautiful and gentle-minded 
Madame de la Valiere, who really loved the man, and 
not the sovereign, in Louis XIV. When the deal, 
the son she had by that king was announced, she said 
" Alas ! I have less reason to be grieved for his death 
than for his birth." 

Many years before this accomplished lady died, she re- 
tired into a convent, and while there she wrote a devotional 
treatise entitled " Reflections upon the Mercy of God." 



ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

f, preached a sermon upon her tak- 

were present Louis the Four- 

-urrt. The text was peculiar, 

to hear : " And he that sat 

renew all things." 

the Magdalen, painted by Le 

which Madame de la Valiere 

e supposed to be a portrait of 

nitent. 

another lady of Louis XIV., 

and intellectually accomplished. 

very beautiful. The Abbe de Chisy 

slation of Thomas-a-Kempis to her, 

n the Psalms : " Hear, my daughter, 

thine ear, and the king shall desire 



L y once made this confession to her 

naturally ambitious. I fought against 

passion. I really thought I should be happy when 

„nat ambition was gratified. That ambition only lasted 

^s days." 

er influence upon the king was always refining and 
ficent. One day she asked him for some alms. " Alas ! 
iam," replied the prince, " what I give in alms are 
merely fresh burdens upon my people. The more I give 
away, the more I must take from them." " This, sire, is 
true," replied Madame de Maintenon ; " but it is right to 
ease the wants of those whom your former taxes, to sup- 
ply the expenses of your wars and of your buildings, 
have reduced to misery. It is truly just that those 
who have been ruined by you, should be supported by 
you." 

This lady survived the king several years, and the 






HARP ALUS. 211 

Regent Duke of Orleans took care that the pension left 
for her by the king should be regularly paid to her. 

When Peter the Great visited Paris, he was very de- 
sirous of seeing Madame de Maintenon. She was very 
infirm and in bed when he visited her. He drew aside 
the curtains, to look at that face which had captivated 
her sovereign. A blush came into her pale and withered 
cheek, and the czar retired. 

Such were the ladies upon whom the gallant Louis 
XIV. bestowed his love. If we must regard them as 
fallen, we are compelled to look upon them at least as 
beautiful flowers growing in a morass. 



HARPALUS. 

i 

Harp alus, the Macedonian, was exiled and disgraced 
by Philip, King of Macedon, for espousing the part of the 
young Prince Alexander. On the death of Philip, Har- 
palus was recalled, and impatiently expected to receive a 
recompense proportionable to the disgrace with which 
his zeal for the young prince had overwhelmed him. 
His hopes were not disappointed. He successively held 
the governments of Celicia and Babylon. Harpalus did 
not possess sufficient strength of mind to bear his eleva- 
tion with temperance ; on the contrary, he gave the rein 
to his passions, which he suffered to hurry him into the 
greatest excesses. He sent for a celebrated beauty from 
Athens, named Pithione, for whose sake he entered into 
prodigious expenses. On the death of this woman, whom 
he perfectly adored, he erected to her memory at Baby- 
lon and before Athens two of the most superb monu- 



212 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

ments in all Greece. This folly was succeeded by 
another ; Glycera, a famous flirt, took the place of Pithi- 
one in his affections, and brought an additional increase 
to his expense and prodigality; to support which, this 
perfidious governor grievously oppressed the people con- 
fided to his care. He thought he might do this with the 
greater security, as he was persuaded Alexander would 
never return to the Indies. The approach of that prince 
was, however, to his confusion, announced, and at the 
same time, the exemplary punishment of particular gov- 
ernors was publicly threatened. Harpalus, foreseeing his 
danger, fled with a part of the royal treasure ; and not 
content with this perfidy, endeavored (but without suc- 
cess) to persuade the Athenians to revolt from Alexander. 
Harpalus was at length murdered by one of his friends ; 
an end worthy the man, who, abusing the public trust, 
thought that the blood of the people intrusted to his 
care might be spilt with impunity to support his intem- 
perance and boundless profusion. 



MISS AMBROSE. 

The vice-regal administration of Lord Chesterfield in 
Ireland was distinguished in many respects beyond that 
of any other viceroy who had preceded him. As a 
judge and patron of learning, his parties were always 
attended by men of letters, and the castle drawing-rooms 
were enlivened with a constellation of beauties. 

Miss Ambrose was universally allowed to be the 
brightest star in that constellation. She was a Roman 
Catholic, and descended from one of the oldest families 



MISS AMBROSE. 213 

in the kingdom. Her charms and vivacity (which were 
always tempered with modesty and prudence), furnished 
his lordship with many opportunities of complimenting 
both, with a delicacy peculiar to a nobleman of his re- 
fined taste and wit. On the first day of July, the Pro- 
testants of Ireland wore orange lilies, in commemoration 
of the battle of the Boyne, which was fought on that 
day, and which was a grand gala at court. On one of 
these occasions, Miss Ambrose appeared with an orange 
lily in her bosom, which hnmediately caught the viceroy's 
eye, and called forth the following extemporary lines : 

" Say, lovely traitor, where's the jest 
Of wearing orange on thy breast ; 
When that same breast uncover'd shows 
The whiteness of the rebel rose ?" 

A few days afterwards, a delegation from the ancient 
town of Drogheda waited on his lordship with the free- 
dom of their corporation in a gold box. Miss Ambrose 
happened to be present : as the box was of the finest 
workmanship, she jocosely requested that his lordship 
would give it to her. "Madam," said he, "you have 
too much of my freedom already." Lord Chesterfield 
used to say, in allusion to the power of beauty, that she 
was the only dangerous papist in Ireland. 

Encircled by a crowd of admirers, in the heyday of 
her bloom, she had the good sense to prefer the hand of 
a plain worthy baronet (Sir Roger Palmer) to all the 
wealth and titles that were at her feet. The marriage 
of this lady was announced in one of the Dublin prints 
in these words : 

" The celebrated Miss Ambrose, of this kingdom, has, 



214 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

to the much-envied happiness of one, and the grief of 
thousands, abdicated her maiden empire of beauty, and 
retreated to the temple of Hymen." 



THE INTRIGUES OF QUEEN ELEANOR. 

Louis VII. king of France, had married Eleanor, or 
Aleinor, daughter and heiress of William IX. duke of 
Guyenne, so that this princess brought her husband 
beauty, (being one of the handsomest women of the 
realm), and two fine provinces, Guyenne and Poitou. 
Unfortunately, Eleanor was not prudent, and excited in 
Louis his too sensible passion of jealousy. This prince, 
going into Palestine, took the queen with him, and on 
her return, says a historian, dissolved his marriage with 
her. The divorce was effected under pretext of consan- 
guinity, but in truth to punish her for a suspected intima- 
cy with a Turk, in the East, and other misconduct, too 
public not to cause scandal, and merit punishment. 
This was she, according to an author of the annals of 
gallantry, who charmed Saladin, chief of the Saracen 
army, and having declared to him that she could not be- 
lieve his protestations of passion, unless delivered in her 
own tongue, forced the great warrior, by a surprising 
effort of love, to learn the French language in fifteen 
days. Brantome says : " I must observe of our queen 
Eleanor, duchess of Guyenne, who accompanied her 
husband to the holy war, to exercise herself in horse- 
manship, and the manners of war, that she neg- 
lected the care of her honor among the Saracens, for 



THE INTRIGUES OF QUEEN ELEANOR. 215 

which the king divorced her." Another historian pre- 
tends that Louis, having arrived at Antioch, was earnest- 
ly pressed by Raimond de Poitiers, paternal-uncle of the 
queen to assist him in driving out the Turks, who en- 
compassed him, and that Eleanor joined her earnest 
entreaties through some other motive than the interest 
of her uncle. He avers that this princess had become 
enamored of a young Turk, lately baptized by the name 
of Saladin, and could not bear the thoughts of a separa- 
tion from him. She was desirous that while the king 
marched against the enemies of her uncle, he would 
leave her at Antioch. The king, suspecting her mo- 
tive, obliged her to leave the city by night, and take the 
route to Jerusalem. Father Daniel is the only one who 
does not mention Saladin, but maintains that it was 
prince Raimond, her uncle, who was the favored one, 
and " that the king on this subject had more than sus- 
picions." " It is surprising," continued he, " that a 
queen of France should come so far and encounter so 
many dangers for devotion's sake, thus to dishonor her- 
self and her husband." Louis was obliged to use artifice 
to remove the queen from Antioch, the design of 
Raimond being to oblige the king to leave the princess 
while he went to encounter the infidels. It is certain, 
however, that it was the misconduct of Eleanor that 
forced Louis to divorce her, an arrangement which was 
agreeable to the queen, as she did not love her husband. 
While at Antioch she told Raimond, in ridiculing Louis, 
that she had not married a king, but a monk. The 
greatest misfortune in this divorce was, that the king 
had so little policy, as to return to her the two provinces 
she had brought him in dower. Men of honor were sur- 
prised to see Henry espouse this princess, whose licen- 



216 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

tiousness was so public. By this marriage, which was 
consummated a few months after the divorce, two fine 
provinces passed into the hands of the enemy of France, 
and it was this, probably, that determined Henry to 
overlook these great blemishes in the character of Elea- 
nor. If we believe Mezery, this princess preferred 
Henry because he was young, ardent and handsome. 
The same historian adds, " this woman, deeply skilled in 
every kind of wickedness, lived more than eighty years, 
occasioned a war which lasted more than sixty, and en- 
gendered a hatred between France and England which 
continued for more than three centuries," so that with 
justice might be applied to her, what the Greek j)oet 
says of the wife of Menelaus, " that for a woman, they 
suffered the calamities of sword and fire, not ten years, 
but four hundred." 



JACQUELINE OF BAVARIA. 

The death of Henry V., King of England, the usurper 
of the crown of France, did not procure to the dauphin 
the advantage he hoped. The Duke of Bedford, brother 
of Henry, and nominated regent of France, was possessed 
of abilities to secure, and even to augment, the glorious 
conquests of the English. The dauphin, who immedi- 
ately took upon him the title of King of France, under 
the name of Charles VII., saw himself confined to a few 
provinces, without troops, and without money to raise 
them, not having even sufficient to support his household, 
and in expectation of the moment that should expel him 
from the kingdom, which legitimately belonged to him. 



JACQUELINE OF BAY ARIA. 217 

Love furnished him with the original means of extricat- 
ing himself from this alarming situation. 

Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault and of Holland, 
widow of John, Dauphin of France, had espoused in her 
second marriage John, Duke of Brabant, cousin of Philip, 
Duke of Burgundy. Inclination had not been consulted 
in this union ; the princess also conceived, soon after her 
marriage, the most sovereign contempt for her husband ; 
and to be able with greater ease to solicit a divorce from 
the court of Rome, she went into England, Her beauty 
and her wealth made the most lively impression on the 
Duke of Gloucester, uncle to young Henry VI., King of 
England ; and as he had no great difficulty to inspire the 
countess with the same passion, these two lovers married, 
after having obtained a dispensation from the anti-Pope 
Bennet XIII., but without having consulted the Duke of 
Burgundy ; this happened in the moment when Charles 
VII. found himself without resources after the battle of 
Verneuil. It was of the greatest importance for the 
English, in their present situation, to secure to their 
party the Duke of Burgundy, the declared enemy of 
France, and especially of Charles VII., and who had 
resolved to sacrifice his country to the pleasure of 
revenging the death of his father. The Duke of Glou- 
cester deranged these projects, the English troops in 
Flanders and Hanault being of necessity employed 
against the Duke of Burgundy, who was extremely irri- 
tated by the marriage of Jacqueline. During this trans- 
action, Charles had time to breathe, and was able to 
adopt the means of his safety ; matters were apparently 
accommodated between the English and the Duke of 
Burgundy by means of a bull from the pope, which 
annulled the last marriage of Jacqueline, and by the 

10 



218 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

marriage of the Duke of Gloucester with Eleanor Cob- 
hain, his mistress ; but though this affair terminated to 
the satisfaction of Philip, it left an impression of disgust 
upon his mind, excited the most extreme jealousy against 
the English, and opened his eyes to his true interests. 
As his hatred against Charles had alone thrown him into 
the power of that monarch's enemies, this passion was 
counterbalanced by another of the same species, which 
became at length more powerful, and by degrees reunited 
him to his own family, and recalled the attachment he 
owed his country. 

Several years, however, elapsed before the Duke of 
Burgundy resolved to break his league with the English ; 
he grew less ardent in supporting them, and reflected 
that in following the impulse of his vengeance, he had 
ruined his country, without deriving from thence any 
other advantage than that of rendering himself subject 
to more imperious rulers ; for the English, since the death 
of Henry V. had not treated this prince with their for- 
mer deference ; but in spite of the coolness which existed 
between the Duke of Bedford and Philip, the latter still 
refused to listen to any proposition on the part of Charles 
VII. Love, which had already contributed to give a 
favorable turn to the reflections of the Duke of Bur- 
gundy, brought them at length to the wished for termi- 
nation. The Duke of Bedford had espoused the sister 
of Philip ; after the death of that princess he became 
enamored of Jacqueline de Luxembourg, daughter of 
Count de Saint Pol, a relation of the Duke of Burgundy, 
and his first vassal. It was natural, and prudent also, to 
have apprised this prince of the projected alliance ; but 
love, and the impatience of the Duke of Bedford, made 
him fear some delay and opposition from the duke. The 



JOHN I. 219 

lady was seventeen years of age, sprightly, beautiful and 
gracious. The marriage was celebrated without the 
Duke of Burgundy being informed of it, which mark of 
neglect irritated him to the highest degree, and was fol- 
lowed by the treaty of Aarras. 



JOHN I. 



During the melancholy state of Charles VI., King of 
France, the government was the prey of the factions 
excited by the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Bur- 
gundy ; they reigned, each in his turn, as their party was 
more or less strong. These divisions were attended 
with the most fatal consequences, since the Duke of Or- 
leans was assassinated in the Rue Barbette, by order of 
the Duke of Burgundy ; and the latter carried his hatred 
and vengeance so far as to deliver the kingdom up to the 
English. If we believe Brantome, and many historians 
much more worthy of credit, the assassination of the Duke 
of Orleans, which was near ruining the kingdom, had no 
other cause or pretence than love. It is thus Bran- 
tome recounts the fact: Duke Louis, of Orleans, once 
publicly vaunted at a banquet, at which Duke John of 
Burgundy, his cousin, was present, that he had in his 
cabinet portraits of the most beautiful women who had 
granted him favors ; by a fortuitous event, Duke John 
one day entered this closet, and the first whom he saw 
portrayed was the noble lady his wife, in those times 
spoken of as very beautiful. She was called Margaret, 
and was the daughter of Albert of Bavaria, Count of 
Hainault, Holland and Zealand. What was the astonish- 



220 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

ment of this good husband ! Conceive all that he said, 
and all that he felt. He concealed this mortal sting to 
his honor, and coloring his vengeance with the quarrel 
for the regency and administration of the realm, he 
caused the Duke of Orleans to be assassinated at the 
gate Baudet, at Paris, his wife dying before, it is thought, 
by poison. 

It is said that the Duke of Burgundy employed for 
this assassination people whose interests were the same 
as his own. It is known that the famous John, Count de 
Dunois, natural son of the Duke of Orleans, had for 
his mother Mary d'Enghien, a woman of illustrious 
birth, who had married Aubert de Cany, Chevalier 
Picard, and Chamberlain of the duke. To this Aubert 
de Cany, who resolved to revenge himself for the dis- 
honor which had been done him by the duke his master, 
John I. joined Ralph d'Ognetonville, who easily came 
into the views of John, because the Duke of Orleans 
had dishonored him. 

Other authors say, that the Duke of Burgundy first 
began to perceive the passion of the Duke of Orleans for 
his wife, by a song which this prince had made, in which 
he praises black hair, of which color was the duchess'. 
It is added that this princess complained herself to her 
husband, that the Duke of Orleans, having met her at a 
ball, apart from the company, had dared to make inde- 
cent proposals to her, and had even attempted to use 
some violence. 

A modern historian says, that the death of the Duke 
of Orleans was at once the crime of jealousy and ambi- 
tion. The Duke of Orleans, gallant and indiscreet, 
reckoned publicly among his conquests the Duchess of 
Burgundy. 



JOHN I. 221 

Another gallantry, still more public, of Louis, Duke 
of Orleans, did not a little contribute to his ruin. Isa- 
bella of Bavaria, Queen of France, giving herself up to 
the most unbounded luxury and extreme dissipation, 
especially since the melancholy situation of Charles VI., 
her husband, had conceived a passion for the Duke of 
Orleans, her brother-in-law, the most amiable prince of 
his time, and at the same time the least scrupulous in 
his moral character. This connection soon became so 
public, that the people murmured loudly. The injurious 
reports that were spread upon the birth of Charles VII., 
and the scorn with which the queen was treated during 
her life, and after her death, prove the sentiments that 
were entertained about her conduct. However, this 
princess, to whom Charles VI. had granted absolute 
authority on account of his frequent relapses, vigorously 
supported the Duke of Orleans, and always influenced 
the council in his favor. The Duke of Burgundy, in- 
censed at his credit, and irritated at the^ortifications he 
had several times endured, could devise no other means 
of freeing himself from so formidable a rival than that 
of assassination. It was in returning one night from the 
queen's house, where the Duke of Orleans went every 
night, that he was killed in the Rue Barbette. One of 
the chief accusations against this prince, and which were 
brought forward to justify the Duke of Burgundy, in 
the harangue which Dr. Petit had the boldness to pro- 
nounce before all the court, was adultery. 

If the suspicions of the public upon the criminal con- 
nection of the queen with the Duke of Orleans were 
well founded, we may judge the chagrin of Isabella at 
the assassination of her lover. After the peace of Bour- 
ges, settled between the Orleanese and the Burgundians, 



222 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

a peace which was formally sworn by the princes at 
Auxerre, the queen, who had been for a long time at 
Mulen, repaired to Paris. 



THE BEAUTIFUL ELGIVA. 

Edwy was no more than sixteen or seventeen years of 
age when he succeeded Edred, his uncle, in the kingdom 
of England. It was unfortunately at an age when the 
passion of love is felt with most intensity, as the young 
prince experienced it in a most severe manner. There 
was at the court a princess of royal blood, named Elgiva. 
Her youth and beauty made the most lively impression 
on the susceptible heart of Edwy, but a considerable 
obstacle opposed itself to the happiness of the two lovers ; 
and this was the degree of relationship existing between 
them. Besides the ministers who opposed it, the pre- 
lates of the realm absolutely refused their consent. 
Edwy, being a monarch, young and passionately in love, 
waived all these considerations, and married Elgiva, but 
suffered greatly in compensation for the happiness of 
wedlock. The famous Saint Dunstan, who had been 
absolute minister under Edred, and who had acquired 
over the clergy and monks the greatest authority, re- 
solved to avenge the injury done the church by Edwy. 
Whether it was that this prince would not listen to any 
representations, or that the saint did not think it expe- 
dient to employ gentler means, he used the utmost 
severity. On the day of the coronation, the young 
prince, ever absorbed by his passion, secretly withdrew 



THE BEAUTIFUL ELGIVA. 223 

from the assembly to seek his beloved Elgiva. Saint 
Dunstan, who observed this motive of the king's absence, 
accompanied by Odon, Archbishop of Canterbury, forci- 
bly entered the king's apartment, tore him from the 
arms of his wife, and overwhelming him with the bit" 
terest reproaches, forced him to return to the assembly 
of nobles. It must be allowed that this was rather too vio- 
lent a proceeding on the part of this saint. Edwy thought 
so, and believed he had a right to punish the boldness of 
a subject, who had so essentially offended him. Dun- 
stan was requested to render an account of the finances 
he had directed under the reign of Edred. This account 
was probably examined with too scrupulous an eye, 
abuses and misdemeanors were discovered, and the saint 
was banished the realm. This exile drew upon Edwy 
the hatred of the clergy and monks, which he felt with 
the greatest severity. The queen was the first victim. 
Torn from the palace by a troop of soldiers, by order of 
the Archbishop of Canterbury, she was carried to Ire- 
land, after having her face burnt with a hot iron, to des- 
troy that beauty which was the cause of all the troubles. 
Nevertheless the princess succeeded in healing her 
wounds so effectually, that no trace of them could be 
perceived. She was hastening into England, to rejoin 
her husband, when she was seized upon by Odon, who, to 
end all disputes, had the cruelty to cut her ham-strings, 
and she died a few days after. The unfortunate Edwy, 
though king, was forced to devour his grief in silence, 
so great was the veneration in those times of the people 
for the ecclesiastics. It might be supposed that the 
death of Elgiva would have appeased the king's enemies, 
but Dunstan was still in exile, and his partisans resolved 
to avenge him in a most signal manner. The people, 



224 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

incited by the monks, revolted, placed the crown upon 
the head of Edgar, the youngest of Edwy's brothers, 
and drove their lawful monarch from the throne. This 
revolt was approved and canonized by Saint Dunstan, 
who then returned to England, and declared loudly for 
Edgar. Edwy, banished, excommunicated and perse- 
cuted with the greatest severity, died, and left Edgar 
in the quiet possession of a kingdom which fanaticism 
had gained him. 



QUEEN ISABELLA'S PASSION. 

Edwakd II., king of England, was noted for his weak- 
ness of character, and his misfortunes. Incapable of 
governing, he selected favorites, and chose those who 
were disliked by the people and nobles. Gaveston, his 
first favorite, perished on the scaffold. Hugh Spenser, 
who succeeded him, occasioned the most alarming 
troubles. In the midst of tumult, Edward, threatened 
with a war with France, where Charles le Bel reigned, 
resolved to send to that prince his sister Isabella, queen 
of England, to adjust the difficulties. It was during the 
sojourn of this princess in France, that love formed the 
famous conspiracy which deprived Edward both of his 
throne and life. Among the number of exiled barons 
to the court of France, was the young Roger Mortimer, 
of Wales. Obliged to submit with others of his rank 
to the king, and condemned to death, a punishment 
afterwards changed to perpetual imprisonment, he had for- 
tunately escaped to France, and there finding one of the 
greatest noblemen of the fallen party, he at last obtained 



QUEEN ISABELLA'S PASSION. 225 

permission to pay his court to Isabella. This princess 
was soon captivated by the fascinating young Mortimer, 
who, making still greater progress in her affections 
each day, at length overcame every sentiment of 
honor and fidelity due to her husband. Detesting 
a prince she had now injured, and never loved, she en- 
tered into the conspiracy with Mortimer, determined on 
the ruin of the king and his favorite. Edward was in- 
formed of the scandalous connection between the queen 
and Mortimer, and endeavored to recall her to England, 
and even employed the mediation of the pope. The 
people, who mortally hated the favorite and despised the 
king, declared openly for the queen. Spenser ended his 
life, as Gaveston had done, on the scaffold. Edward, 
himself, a wandering fugitive, was arrested and im- 
prisoned in Kenilworth Castle. Soon after, Elizabeth 
called the parliament together, and after demonstrating 
to them that the king was incapable of governing, they 
solemnly deposed him, and set young Edward upon the 
throne. The misfortunes of the king did not end here, 
and the English already began to lament his fate. The 
scandalous conduct of the queen and Mortimer opened 
the eyes of the nation to the unjust proceedings of these 
two lovers. Mortimer, who perceived it, gave orders to 
those whd*had charge of the king to destroy him, and 
they were too ready to execute this command. They 
seized Edward, and put him to death by thrusting a 
heated iron through his entrails. Thus perished Edward 
II., the victim of his own weakness, and still more of 
the infamous passion of the queen for Mortimer. That 
nobleman, during some time experienced the smiles of 
fortune, but they did not continue long after the infamy 
of the queen was unravelled. He was arrested in the 

10* 



226 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

queen's chamber, and in spite of her tears and entreaties, 
was hung, drawn and quartered. The queen was de- 
prived of her authority, and confined in the castle of 
Kesing. 



OTHO. 



The house of Meran, illustrious both for its origin 
and power, became extinct through a woman, Otho, 
duke of Meran, became enamored of the wife of his 
steward, who was of the house of Hagar. This con- 
nection, which soon became public, displeased the hus- 
band, who probably would have preferred his honor to 
his fortune, if the honor of a man always depends on the 
weakness and caprice of a wife. However, this master 
of the household, given up to all the fury of jealousy, as- 
sassinated his master, whom he found in the bath with 
his wife. The duke was the last of his family. 



E UEIPID E S. 

Euripides, the tragic-poet, has left a reputation which 
will never be forgotten. He was the rival of Sophocles, 
both champions worthy to dispute for victory. In the 
tragedies of Euripedes, we find many sarcasms launched 
against the fair sex, by which he merited the title of an 
enemy to women. It is suspected that he had good 
reasons for treating us so ill. Some believe that his 
austerity and indifference was the cause of it, while 



OGNA SANCHA. 227 

others maintain that he sought to revenge himself or_ 
women, by whom he had suffered. It is certain that 
having married one named Chserina, he was obliged to 
divorce her on account of her misconduct. This first 
misfortune did not prove a warning to him, for he ven- 
tured upon taking a second wife, who proved as 
bad as the former. It is said that one of his comedians 
was suspected of being on too intimate terms with her, 
and Euripides was convinced that his case was a hopeless 
one. This last misfortune, drew upon him the ridicule 
of the comic poets, and he was obliged to leave Athens. 
It remains to be determined, and Euripides could alone 
inform us, whether his domestic troubles were balanced 
by his celebrity as a poet. 



OGNA SANCHA. 

Ogna Sancha, Countess of Castile, when a widow, 
had the weakness to listen to the sighs and vows of a 
Moorish prince. Abandoned to an ardent and impetu- 
ous passion, she resolved to satisfy it at the price of 
all that should have been dear to her. Her religion did 
not interfere, and the countess fully believed that she 
could easily convert her lover, when he became her hus- 
band. This first obstacle being surmounted, there still 
remained another more formidable. Ogna Sancha had 
an only son, named Sancho Garcia, who was the lawful 
heir of the Count of Castile. What hope was there 
that he would tamely behold the union his mother pro- 
jected ? Despairing of success, she was induced to pot 



228 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

son her son. The young prince being informed of it, 
when some wine, which he knew to be poisoned, was 
one day offered him at table, dissembled, and begged 
the countess, as a mark of respect, to drink first. Ogna, 
sensible that her crime was discovered, and despairing 
of obtaining forgiveness, drank all that was in the cup, 
and died a short time after. From this, it is said, origi- 
nated the custom in Castile for the woman to drink first. 
Don Sancho Garcia, to expiate the crime to which he 
had been accessary, founded a monastery, to which he 
gave the name of Ogna, and desired to be interred there. 
These were the great penances of the age. 



TIBERIUS NERO. 

Tiberius Neuo, grandson of Appius Claudius, the 
blind, married Livia, the daughter of Livius Drusus 
Claudianus, and had two children by her, of whom the 
eldest is the subject of the following article. Tiberius 
was of Caesar's party. After the death of that great 
man, he was uncertain as to which cause he ought to es- 
pouse, and at length ranked himself on the side of the 
triumvirate. To make his court to Augustus, who was 
enamored of Livia, he gave her up to him ; whether 
voluntarily or from necessity, we are uncertain, as authors 
vary on this point. Three months after, a son was born 
to Livia, and it was publicly believed that this child, 
who was named Claudius Drusus N"ero, was the child of 
Augustus. Livia, in becoming the wife of Augustus, 
obtained over him the most absolute dominion. A short 
time previously, she had been pursued while with Tibe- 



THE LOVES OF EDWARD IV. 229 

rius, her husband, by the soldiers of Augustus, during 
the war excited by Fulvia, the wife of Antony, 'and it 
was one of the most fortunate chances that Livia es- 
caped death. 



THE LOVES OF EDWARD IV. 

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, had dethroned 
Henry VI., King of England, to place the crown upon 
the head of the Duke of York, who took the name of 
Edward IV. By this revolution, the party of the Red 
Rose, which was that <5f the House of Lancaster, was 
overcome by the White Rose, who held for the Duke of 
York, and nothing appeared to threaten the quiet of the 
new king. He was sensible that he was indebted for his 
success to the Earl of Warwick, and to testify his grati- 
tude, empowered him to negotiate his marriage -with 
Bonne de Savoie, sister to the Queen of France. The 
conditions were agreed to, and required only the signa- 
ture of the king ; but love overthrew all. The king 
went to hunt near Grafton, and had called at Lord 
Rivers, to pay his compliments to his wife. She had her 
daughter with her, the widow of Sir John Grey, killed 
in the service of Henry VI., at the second battle of St. 
Albans, and had lost part of her effects in the confiscation 
of those of her husband. The young widow, seeing so fa- 
vorable an opportunity to recover what she had lost, took 
occasion during this visit to solicit the king, and obtained 
her request. The king also felt entitled to ask a favor. 
" I do not esteem myself enough," replied the widow, " to 
believe myself worthy to be your queen, neither do I de- 



230 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

grade myself so low as to become your mistress. I can only 
love a husband, and since that cannot be, rest satisfied that 
I honor you as my king, and look up to you with all the 
gratitude due a benefactor." She only inflamed his pas- 
sion by her endeavors to subdue it, and he resolved to 
marry her in spite of every effort the Duchess of York, 
his mother, made to dissuade him from it. They repre- 
sented to him the impediments, but these only increased 
his passion, and he at length espoused Lady Gray. From 
this moment, having no other will but that of the queen, 
this prince left her absolute mistress of all honors and 
preferments. The Earl of Warwick was no sooner ap- 
prised of the change that had been effected by love, 
than he imagined they designed to make him the laugh- 
ing-stock of all Europe. He abandoned himself to the 
most violent rage, and thought of nothing but revenge 
for the affront that had been put upon him. Another 
motive, it is said, stimulated him — namely, the king had 
injured a lady of his family. Taking advantage of the 
discontent of the English at the marriage of Edward, 
the earl resolved to drive him from the throne on which 
he had placed him. He soon engaged in his cause the 
Duke of Clarence, the king's brother, by dazzling him 
with the lustre of a crown. He had less trouble to win 
him as he was his son-in-law. But he committed a great 
error, which destroyed all his measures. He gave one 
of his daughters in marriage to the Prince of Wales, son 
of Henry VI. In the meantime the rebellion in the 
north of England broke out. Edward's generals having 
been vanquished, the insurgents caused the Earl of 
Rivers and John Woodville to be given up to them at 
Grafton, and there these gentlemen perished on the 
scaffold. A short time after, Edward was himself made 



THE LOVES OF EDWARD IV. 231 

prisoner. The war appeared then almost at an end, but 
the dethroned king made his escape from his prison, and 
put himself at the head of his troops. Warwick and 
the Duke of Clarence withdrew into France. There 
they found Margaret d'Anjou, wife of the unfortunate 
Henry VI., who was then soliciting favor for her cause. 
Their common misfortunes having united them, they 
returned to England with the assistance which Louis XI. 
had granted them. The friends of Warwick had pre- 
pared everything so well, that at the commencement of 
the invasion, Edward found himself deserted by his own 
troops, and glad to escape. He repaired to Lynne, 
where he found vessels that transported him to Hollandj 
with the Duke of Gloucester, his brother. Warwick, 
now master of the kingdom, repaired to London, took 
Henry VI. from prison, and restored to him a crown he 
had previously taken from him. This unexpected good 
fortune for this unhappy king was not however of long 
duration. The Earl of Warwick was deceived doubtless 
by the Earl of Clarence, who could not see without in- 
dignation the marriage of his sister-in-law with the 
Prince of Wales. Edward, assured of success, passed 
into England with the small succors he had received 
from the Duke of Burgundy. He met with no opposi- 
tion, the gates of London were opened to him without 
any bloodshed ; and his brother, the Duke of Clarence, 
united with him, adding twelve thousand men to his 
forces. A battle fought between St. Albans and Lon- 
don, in which both Warwick and his brother were killed, 
decided the difference. There still remained a large 
party against Edward, headed by the Prince of Wales 
and Margaret d'Anjou, his mother. Edward, in a bat- 
tle with them at Tewksbury, gained a complete vie- 



232 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

tory ; in which action, it is said, the Prince of Wales 
perished. 

Philip de Comines pretends that love opened to Ed- 
ward the gates of London. He says that the wives of 
the richest citizens, with whom Edward had been con- 
nected, gained over to his interests their husbands and 
relatives.. The Widow Gray, who caused all these revo- 
lutions, was herself the offspring of love. Jaqueline of 
Luxembourg, her mother, after the death of her first 
husband, the Duke of Bedford, sacrificed her pride to 
affection, and married Sir Richard Woodville, a private 
gentleman, afterwards created Lord Rivers, and it was 
from this alliance resulted the charming Elizabeth, who 
espoused Sir John Gray, of Groty, and who, as much 
through her beauty as address, ascended the throne. It 
is singular, that although this princess had quietly en- 
joyed her title of queen, and that she had by Edward 
children whose legitimacy none appeared to doubt ; yet 
after the death of her husband, the ambitious Duke of 
Gloucester determined to usurp the crown at any price, 
tried to establish a certain fact, " That Edward, before 
he married Lady Gray, had become enamored of Eleanor 
Talbot, daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury, but finding 
her so virtuous, he was obliged to consent to a clandes- 
tine marriage, performed by Stillington, bishop of Bath, 
without any witnesses, who had disclosed the secret." 
From this the duke inferred that the children of Edward 
and Elizabeth Gray were illegitimate. However, the 
two sons of Edward were sacrificed to the ambition of 
the Duke of Gloucester, who ascended the throne under 
the name of Richard III. This prince, to prove his 
right to the crown, was not ashamed to assert and sup- 
port that his mother, the Duchess of York, led a most 



THE LOVES OF THE DUKE OF TOEK. 233 

licentious life, that Edward IV. was the son of the un- 
lawful amours of that princess, and that he himself was 
the son of the Duke of York, which he endeavored to 
prove by the perfect resemblance he bore to his father. 
This cruel prince next resolved on the overthrow of 
Lord Hastings, one of the principal noblemen of the 
realm, who would not enter into his criminal views, and 
had him massacred, under pretence that he had conceived 
a passion for Jane Shore, who had been the mistress 
of Edward, and that this woman used magic against him 
the Duke of Gloucester. It is true that Lord Hastings 
loved Jane Shore, and also that she was weak enough to 
yield to the ardent desires of Edward, whom few could 
resist ; but she had atoned for this fault by all the other 
virtues that can render a woman charming. Notwith- 
standing the high position of her accuser, she could only 
be condemned for her intrigue with Edward. 



THE LOVES 0? THE DUKE 0E YORK. 

After the Duke of York, brother of Charles II., 
king of England, and whose misfortunes are well known, 
had publicly declared his marriage with Miss Hyde, a 
marriage of which love had formed the first bands, he 
allowed himself to yield a little to his natural inconstancy. 
He took the first mistress that he found ready to his 
purpose. This was the Lady Carnegny, who had the 
love of many others. She was still handsome, and her 
natural good nature would not suffer her new lover to 
languish long in vain. All went on well for some time, 
while Lord Carnegny, her husband, was still in Scotland; 



234 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

but his father dying suddenly, he returned with the title 
of Southesk, which his wife hated, but bore it more pa- 
tiently than his return. He had some intimation of the 
honor that had been done him during his absence. He 
would not at first yield to jealousy, but to convince 
himself of the truth, closely watched his wife. In the 
meanwhile, Talbot returned from Portugal, and without 
knowing who lady Southesk was, learned that his mas- 
ter was in love with her. He sometimes accompanied 
the duke on his visits to her, for a blind. He was pre- 
sented, and after the usual compliments passed, withdrew 
into an ante-chamber. The window of the room looked 
into the street, and Talbot seated himself, to watch the 
passengers. He was thus placed as a sentinel, and w^as 
very attentive to his instructions, when he perceived 
a coach drive up to the door without any concern, and 
presently he saw a man alight who came up the stairs. 
This proved to be lord Southesk, who was not aware 
of his guests at home, and was much surprised to see 
Talbot quietly seated in his wife's ante-chamber. 
Talbot had not seen him since his return from Flanders, 
and not knowing that he had changed his title, by suc- 
cession, thus accosted him : " Ah ! good morrow, Car- 
negny ; good morrow, fat pig. Where hast thou been 
that I have not seen thee since we met at Brussels ? 
What dost thou here ? hast thou, too, designs upon the 
Southesk ? If that is the case, my poor friend, thou 
must change thy quarters, for the duke of York is in 
love with the lady, and is even now with her." Southesk, 
completely confounded, reentered his carriage, and 
Talbot, charmed with the adventure, was impatient to 
repeat it to the duke. He was, however, much surprised 
to find that the history had nothing in it so pleasant to 



NAIVAILLES. 235 

the parties concerned, and was more chagrined that the 
fact of Carnegny having changed his name, served to 
draw from him the secret he had imparted. 



NAIVAILLES. 

The Duke and Duchess de Naivailles, were indebted 
for their brilliant fortune to the Cardinal Mazarin. The 
duke had the government of Havre de Grace and the 
lieutenancy of the light horse, while the duchess was 
lady of honor to the queen, and enjoyed the esteem and 
friendship of that princess and the queen mother. An 
infant destroyed all this greatness, and the moment of 
destruction was hastened by love. Louis XIV., a short 
time after his marriage, became enamored of Mademoi- 
selle de la Yalliere, and as he found her scrupulously vir- 
tuous, he turned his affections to Mademoiselle de la 
Motte, another lady of honor, for whom his passion 
became very ardent. Madame de Naivailles, who had the 
inspection over the ladies of honor, thought it a grievous 
offence to overlook the intrigue of Mademoiselle de la 
Motte. She at first spoke to the king, and entreated him 
to overcome his passion ; but finding this did not suc- 
ceed, she employed more effectual means, and caused 
bars of iron to be put to the doors and windows of the 
apartment. This conduct displeased the king, and the 
Countess de Soissons, a former favorite of the king, 
incensed him more against the Duchess de ISTaivailles. 
To all these causes of discontent was added the jealousy 
of the queen, who was persuaded that the duchess was 
the cause of the king's infidelity. Louis XIV. at length 



m 



236 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

triumphed over the virtue of Mademoiselle de la Valliere, 
disgraced the Duke and Duchess de Naivailles, and ban- 
ished them from court. If we are to believe Voltaire, 
the Duke and Duchess de ISTaivailles were ruined by the 
treachery of the Marquis Vardes, who after being the 
confident of the amours of the king and Mademoiselle de 
la Valliere, united himself with the Count de Guiche, and 
the Countess de Soissons, to ruin this favorite. They 
caused a counterfeit letter to fall into the hands of the 
queen, written in the name of the King of Spain, her 
father, by which they informed her of things that could 
not but trouble her repose. The marquis added to this 
perfidy, by causing suspicions to fall upon the Duke and 
Duchess de Naivailles. Their innocence was fully proved, 
but too late to repair the mischief. 



LOYE THE FOUNDER OF ROME. 

Peocus, who succeeded Aventinus in the kingdom 
of Alba, had two sons, Numitor and Amulius. Numi- 
tor was declared successor to the throne, but his bro- 
ther, more politic and bold, seized upon the sceptre. He 
granted Numitor one only favor, that of passing his 
days in an obscure retreat. Egistus, the son of this 
unfortunate prince, was killed while hunting. Rhea 
Sylvia, his sister, alone was spared ; but in sparing her 
life, Amulius consecrated her from infancy to the wor- 
ship of the goddess Vesta. While Amulius was enjoy- 
ing in tranquillity the empire he had secured, love was 
preparing to baffle his prudence. Those who were con- 



LOVE THE FOUNDER OF EOME. 237 

secrated to the service of Vesta were obliged with, great 
care to preserve their virtue, but this was not sufficient 
to extinguish love. Restraint, on the contrary, awaken- 
ed and heightened it. Rhea Sylvia, by her birth, 
thought she might with less impunity infringe the severe 
laws of the goddess she served. As she went to a 
fountain to draw water necessary for the sacrifices, a 
man, disguised in the military habit, surprised the ves- 
tal. The historians who loved the marvellous, assert 
that this lover was the god Mars, while others assure 
us that Amulius was himself desirous of an amour with 
his niece. It is more probable that Rhea Sylvia had a 
lover, and to obtain an opportunity of conversing with 
him without constraint, had appointed a rendezvous at 
the fountain where she went to draw water. However 
it may be, there were born from this rencontre, twins, 
Remus and Romulus. It is known that Amulius, in- 
formed of the condition of his niece and little inclined 
to credit the story about the god Mars, condemned 
Rhea Sylvia to death, and the fruits of her mis-step to 
be thrown into the Tiber. It is written that the daughter 
of Amulius obtained the pardon of Rhea, and that the 
twins, inclosed in a wooden box, were preserved and 
fostered by the wife of Numitor's shepherd, whose 
memory was held sacred at Rome. Chance having in- 
formed Remus and Romulus of their birth, they dethron- 
ed Amulius, put him to death and restored to Numitor 
his rightful crown. It is also said, that these two princes, 
followed by a numerous colony, attempted and finished 
the celebrated city of Rome. Thus the capital of the 
world and of the Catholic religion is entirely indebted to 
love for its establishment. It is useless to speak of the 
death of Remus, killed either by order of his brother, or 



238 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

without his knowledge. He perished either in the battle 
raised by Faustulus his foster-father, or by the hands of 
one Fabius. 

This was before Christ 158. 



MONTMORENCY. 

Francis de Montmorency, eldest son of the high 
constable, Anne de Montmorency, fell desperately in 
love with Jane de Halluin, lady of Pienne, and maid of 
honor to Catherine de Medicis. She was distinguished 
for her birth, beauty, and virtue. If she is accused of 
any weakness, it was after her lover had assured her of 
promises of marriage, with oaths that he would rather 
lose his life than break his word. The ambition of the 
high constable destroyed these pleasing engagements. 
Diana, of France, natural daughter of Henry II., 
having lost her husband, the Duke de. Castro, the 
high constable persuaded the king to consent to the 
marriage of this beautiful widow with his eldest son ; 
but the promise made to Mademoiselle Pienne was an 
insurmountable obstacle. Henry II. caused the most 
pressing instances to be made at Rome, to declare this 
promise null. It is added, that Francis de Montmo- 
rency, forgetting his oaths, visited Rome himself to 
insure his success. The pope, Paul IV., had particular 
reasons for opposing this union — for he had projected an 
alliance between one of his nephews and the Duchess de 
Castro. The high constable, seeing his arguments were 
useless, left the pope, and caused an edict to be pub- 
lished against clandestine marriages. This was some- 



THE LOVES OF XEEXES. 239 

thing gained; but it still remained to secure the lady. 
Confined in a convent, by the order of the king, she 
lamented her weakness, and bewailed the infidelity of 
her lover. Persecuted on all sides, she at last gave a 
renunciation of the promise of marriage, and her per- 
fidious lover, without opposition, married Diana. Seve- 
ral years after, during the reign of Henry ILL, Francis 
de Montmorency and the Marshal de Coffe were ar- 
rested and imprisoned in the Bastile, where they re- 
mained a year and a half. They would not have been 
liberated then had not monsieur, the king's brother, 
positively exacted it. This, at least, seems the apparent 
cause of their liberation ; but if we believe Brantome, 
they were indebted to love. This author says, that but 
for Madame de Montmorency, the wife of the prisoner, 
solely beloved by the king, a process would have 
been commenced against the marshal, as soon' as the 
monarch returned from Poland ; for it is said there 
existed proofs against him. If this is true, we may 
easily conceive the obligations that Montmorency must 
have felt under to a wife who had rendered him so great 
a service. 



THE LOYES OF XERXES. 

On the return of Xerxes, King of Persia, from his un- 
fortunate expedition against the Greeks, this prince, who 
had been obliged to make his escape, after having carried 
three hundred thousand men against a handful of Greeks, 
remained for some time in Sardis. Love made him in this 
city forget his misfortunes, but caused him new ones. 
Mastites, brother of the king, had a wife whose graces and 



240 ANECDOTES OF LOVE, 

beauty could not fail of inspiring a great passion. Xerx* 
became desperately in love, and without reflecting that 
she was the wife of his brother, he employed all possible 
means to possess her. The virtue of this princess was 
equal to her beauty, and, sincerely attached to her hus- 
band, did not suffer her to be dazzled by the promises 
of the king or intimidated by his threats : — she remained 
firm in her duty. Xerxes, thinking to subdue her by hon- 
ors, married her daughter Attainta to Darius, his eldest 
son, heir to the throne. The wife of Mastites, was sensible 
of this mark of favor, and expressed the most lively 
gratitude ; but her virtue did not permit her to entertain 
any sentiments more tender for the king. Xerxes, 
despairing of success, transplanted his affections to the 
young Attainta, who had married his son, and found her 
less virtuous than her mother. On the arrival of the 
king at Luze, Queen Amestris presented him with a 
superb robe, the work of her own hands. The prince 
appeared before Attainta with this rich present, and in 
the transports of love, promised her whateyer she should 
demand. She replied that she bounded her wishes to 
the robe of the king. Xerxes, knowing the consequences 
of this present, warmly remonstratd with his mistress ; 
but in vain, she persisted, and the king had the weakness 
to grant her request. Soon after this, Attainta appeared 
before all the court with this robe, a shining triumph for 
a young woman ; but the imprudent princess was igno- 
rant of the misfortune that would result from it. Ames- 
tris, who had only suspected, was now fully persuaded 
of the happiness of her rival. The jealous queen .believed 
that the mother of Attainta was the author of this 
intrigue, and it was upon this innocent woman that she 
vented her revenge and fury. The birthday of the king 



FRANCIS I. 241 

, ex solemn festival, when the prince was obliged to 
grant the queen all she asked. Amestris waited till this 
day for her vengeance, and then required Xerxes to give 
up to her the wife of Mastites. The king, who well knew 
the motive, and the innocence of this woman, refused. 
Amestris wept and threatened, and Xerxes, at last won 
by this beautiful woman, complied. As soon as the queen 
had this innocent victim in her power, she caused to be 
cut off, her breasts, tongue, nose, ears and lips, and in 
that dreadful situation sent her home. Mastites, who 
adored his wife, abandoned himself to despair on seeing 
the cruel treatment she had received, and assembled his 
family and all who belonged to him, and hastened to 
Bactrian, where he was governor, to raise an army and 
revenge with blood the injury he had sustained. The 
king, informed of his brother's flight, overtook him with 
a detachment of cavalry, and massacred him and all his 
people. 



FRANCIS I. 

Brantome, after having said that Francis was the 
first who caused the frequent visits of ladies at court, and 
after having commented upon the advantages and incon- 
veniences resulting from it, says : " For my part I con- 
clude, not from having seen the splendid court of that 
great king, but from those that have followed, that 
nothing could have been better conceived than the in- 
troduction of ladies at court." 

Francis I. himself, who was one of the most gallant 
kings of France, said that the ladies rendered the gentle- 
men of his court more valiant than their swords. This 

11 



242 .ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

prince, however, carried his fondness for women too far, 
as he acknowledged himself. If they made him valiant, 
they were also the cause of his misfortunes. He at 
length made himself master of Milan, which had cost the 
French so much blood. The high-constable of Bourbon 
had for some time enjoyed the government of that duchy. 
The Marshal de Lautrec was his successor. Although 
he owed his place to the recommendation of Madame de 
Chateaubriant, his sister, the mistress of Francis I., he 
had perhaps done honor to this choice had it not been 
for the intrigues of the court occasioned by Love. The 
Duchess d'Angouleme, mother of the king, who took 
upon herself the government of the realm, did not with- 
out grief, behold the ardent passion her son entertained 
for Madame de Chateaubriant. She feared losing her 
own power and authority, by the ascendency that this 
woman had over the mind of Francis. To remove and 
at the same time ruin so dangerous a rival, she thought 
she must reduce the marshal to the cruel necessity of 
seeing Milan again in the possession of the enemy, being 
pesuaded that the loss of a state, the conquest of which 
had been so flattering to Francis I., would necessarily 
hasten the fall of the marshal and his sister. In giving 
M. de Lautrec the government of the Milanese, consid- 
erable sums had been promised him for the payment of 
his troops. The Duchess d'Angouleme detained this 
money. Lautrec was no longer master of his army, es- 
pecially of the Swiss. They forced him to come to battle 
with these words: "Money, a discharge, or battle." 
He was conquered, and the Milanese fell again into the 
hands of the enemies of France. Thus far the project 
of the Duchess d'Angouleme, had all the success she 
could hope for, but she was not able to prevent Lautrec 



FKANCIS I. 243 

from justifying himself, and from proving that the four 
hundred thousand crowns which he had been promised 
had not been remitted. Francis I. resolved to fathom 
this mystery, and in effect discovered that M. de Samb- 
lencay, superintendent of the finances, had not sent the 
money. In vain Samblencay endeavored to excuse him- 
self by saying he had given the four hundred thousand 
crowns to the Duchess d'Angouleme, but as he was not 
able to produce the receipts he was said to have had from 
that princess, he was condemned to die. Love, it is said, 
deprived him of the means of justifying himself. Gentil, 
his head clerk, had restored these receipts to the Duch- 
ess, at the request of one of her women, with whom the 
clerk was in love, and who exacted that sacrifice. This 
Gentil experienced the same fate as his master, and was 
hung a few years after. Others attribute the hatred of 
the Duchess d'Angouleme toward Lautrec, to some rail- 
leries, which the latter had suffered to escape him, upon 
the amours of the princess. 

We have said elsewhere, that the dissensions of the 
court, and of his mistresses, obliged the king to go into 
Italy, to re-conquer the Milanese. Thence followed the 
battle of Pavia, and the imprisonment of Francis. While 
the prince besieged Pavia, Antoine de Leve, who com- 
manded there, defended himself with invincible courage. 
The high-constable of Bourbon, whom love and women 
had rendered a traitor to his country, sought to render 
an essential service to the emperor, his new master, by 
raising at his own expense a troop of lansquenets, to 
join the imperial army. To execute this project, it was 
necessary to have money, and of this the Duke of 
Bourbon was in absolute want, and without credit. The 
desire of revenging himself on his country, together 



244 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

with, his courage, surmounted these obstacles, and he 
repaired to the duke of Savoy. This prince, brother to 
the Duchess d'Angoul&me, had always been attached to 
the French. It was he who, in 1515, opened a route 
across the Alps, and whose zeal was not yet cooled. It 
was, nevertheless, this same Duke of Savoy, who secretly 
lent the Duke of Bourbon jewels and money, with which 
he raised twelve thousand lansquenets, who greatly con- 
tributed to the famous victory which the imperialists 
obtained before Pavia, in which Francis I., after having 
achieved all that could be attempted by a hero, was 
made prisoner. This change in the Duke of Savoy 
was the work of a woman. This prince, three years be- 
fore, had married Beatrice of Portugal, sister of Isabella, 
who a short time after was made empress. It was to 
please his new wife, that the Duke of Savoy, forgetting 
his old engagements and his friendship for his sister, in- 
clined to the side of the imperialists. 

On his return from Spain, where Charles V. had been 
detained too long, Francis became enamored of Made- 
moiselle de Heilly, who was afterwards Duchess d'Estem- 
pas, forgetting Madame de Chateaubriant, his former 
mistress. 

The duchess very soon obtained such an ascendency 
over the mind of the king, that she forced him to de- 
mand the jewels he had given Madame de Chateaubriant, 
which were more valuable for the elegance of their de- 
vices than for their intrinsic worth. Madame de Cha- 
teaubriant told the king's messenger, that she could not 
immediately obey him as she was ill, but in three days 
she would return all. During this interval, she caused 
all the gold that surrounded the jewels to be melted, by 
which means the devices were lost. She then sent the 



FKANCIS I. 245 

ingots. " Take these," she said, to the king, " and tell 
him that since it is his pleasure to recall what he had so 
liberally given me, I restore them in ingots of gold. 
As for the devices, I have so well imprinted and ar- 
ranged them in my thoughts and I hold them so dear, 
that I cannot permit any one to dispose of or take pleas- 
ure in them but myself." The king then felt, that his 
fondness for his new mistress, had caused him to act im- 
properly. He returned the ingots to Madame de Cha- 
teaubriant, informing her, that the devices being lost, he 
cared little for the rest. The Duchess d'Estampes very 
soon influenced matters more interesting to the kingdom. 
The emperor and Henry VIII., king of England, formed 
the scheme of making themselves masters of the king- 
dom of France. How great soever this project was, 
they would perhaps have been able to accomplish it, at 
least in part, if the two confederate princes had acted in 
concert, and had not amused themselves each on his side, 
with besieging towns, instead of marching straight to 
Paris. Charles V., who had penetrated some way into 
the kingdom, on a sudden, found himself without pro- 
visions, or the hope of procuring any, but the intrigues 
of two women saved him. The Duchess d'Estampes, 
desirous of procuring herself a safe retreat after the 
death of Francis, against the hatred of Diana de Poitiers, 
favorite of the Dauphin, caused the French magazines 
to be surrendered to the emperor, upon a promise from 
that prince to give his daughter or his niece in mar- 
riage to the Duke of Orleans, an enemy or at least rival 
to the Dauphin his brother, and the duchess's friend. 

The emperor, who in many instances was apt to 
promise, but slow to remember, had no sooner ob- 
tained provisions for his army, than he marched toward 



246 ANECDOTES OE LOVE. 

Paris ; but soon after he was in want of a fresh supply, 
and a retreat became very dangerous, by the clever ma- 
noeuvres of the French army. The Duchess d'Estampes, 
making use of the ascendency she had over the mind of 
the king, a second time preserved Charles V. by prevail- 
ing on the king to conclude a peace, which was signed 
at Crespy, in spite of the dauphin and his partisans, who 
protested loudly against this, by which all was sacrificed 
for the aggrandizement of the Duke of Orleans, without 
other assurance than the bare word of the emperor. It is 
certain that the Duchess d'Estampes maintained corres- 
pondences with the emperor, and advertised him of the 
resolutions of the council and the army. She also used 
treason. The emperor was near seeing his army de- 
feated before Saint Dazier, which he for a long time be- 
sieged, when the Count de Sancerre, governor of that 
city, received a letter, with the signature of the Duke of 
Guise, governor of the province, which counselled him 
to surrender, taking from him all hope of relief. In con- 
sequence of this, he capitulated. It was afterwards dis- 
covered that this letter was not from the Duke of Guise, 
but from Granville, minister of the emperor, who ob- 
tained the duke's signature through means of the Duchess 
d'Estampes. 

Historians in general have been at some pains to 
form an eulogium on the high-constable Anne de Mont- 
morency. If we reproach him with severity, we must still 
admire his superior military abilities — a virtue sometimes 
a little austere, but worthy a Cato. It was more 
especially under Francis I., that this celebrated man ap- 
peared with the greatest eclat, whether in the army or 
the ministry. The recompense of all his services was 
disgrace, for Francis dismissed him from court and the 



FEANCIS I. 247 

administration. We will not discuss farther the different 
sentiments of historians upon the motives of this dis- 
grace. Almost all agree that two women were the 
cause, the Duchess d'Estampes and Diana de Poitiers. 
The first saw with sensible mortification, that Diana be- 
came the favorite of the dauphin, that she ridiculed her 
age, and insulted her beauty. These two women mor- 
tally hated each other, and this hatred extended to the 
partisans of each. The high-constable showed perhaps 
too great a preference to Diana. He was singularly at- 
tached to the dauphin, and that prince regarded the 
constable as his father and counsellor. The king, who 
was displeased with those who showed too great an at- 
tachment to his son, irritated by his mistress, took a dis- 
like to Montmorency and disgraced him. Admiral 
Brien Chabot met the same fate. His haughtiness was 
the apparent cause of his misfortune. Francis had him 
arrested and tried, and he was condemned to pay a fine 
of fifteen hundred and fifty thousand livres, and to en- 
dure perpetual banishment. It is true this judgment 
was not put in force, that the innocence of the admiral 
was fully acknowledged, and the king himself endeavored 
to efface from his mind the remembrance of his disgrace. 
But the stroke was given, and Chabot died of grief a 
few months after. Mezeray and the historian of 
Francis I. attribute the cause of all to a friendship, per- 
haps a little too tender, that the Duchess d'Estampes 
had conceived for the admiral. The king was not able 
to endure a rival, and cruelly avenged himself. The 
chancellor Poyet, who was obstinately bent on the ruin 
of the admiral, did not remain long unpunished. The 
Duchess d'Estampes, fearful of increasing the jealousy of 
the king, had not dared openly to intercede for Chabot, 



248 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

but she had promised herself faithfully to punish the 
chancellor, and kept her word. She requested the mag- 
istrate to put the seal to letters of removal in a law suit, 
which Renaudie had against Du Tillot, register of the 
parliament. The chancellor refused her request, the 
duchess added the orders of the king, but Poyet did 
not obey. Francis could not refuse anything to his mis- 
tress. The chancellor was arrested, though his cause 
was not tried till three years after. The judgment that 
deposed him, declared him incapable of any office, con- 
demned him to a fine of a hundred thousand livres, and 
to five years' imprisonment. No one lamented his fate. 
The lawyers of the corps into which he attempted to re- 
enter to obtain a livelihood rejected him, and he died in 
shame and poverty. The Duchess d'Estampes, that im- 
perious woman who had governed the realm with an 
odious despotism, found herself obliged after the death 
of Francis, to retire to a country house, where she died 
hated and despised, even by those she had favored. 

Love, which caused Francis to commit so many errors, 
was the cause also of his death. This prince had an amour 
with a woman called La Belle Ferroniere. Her husband, 
whom some report to have been a lawyer, and others 
an ironmonger, not thinking, like many others, that it 
was an honor to see his wife contribute to the pleasures 
of his king, resolved to revenge himself, which he did in 
a cruel manner. His wife having contracted an infectious 
disease, her husband compelled her to withhold the know- 
ledge from the king, who caught the malady, and soon 
felt its effects. La Belle Ferroniere soon after died. The 
king was improperly treated, and his disease first appeared 
at Compiegne in 1538. The sprightliness of his wit, which 
had hitherto rendered him an ornament to his court, now 



MADAME GIAC. 249 

disappeared, and he became thoughtful, reserved and 
melancholy, and having lingered nine months died in 
1547. 

We will finish this article with an anecdote from 
Brantome : 

" I have heard," says this author, " that Francis once 
going to the chamber of the lady of his court whom he 
loved, met her husband sword in hand, who was going 
to kill her. The king drew, and holding his sword to 
his throat, told him that if he attempted it, he would 
either kill him or have him beheaded. Never after that 
did the husband dare to murmur, and the king was at 
liberty to do as he pleased." 



MADAME GIAC. 

The most celebrated and important event in the histo- 
ry of France, and upon which for a long time the fate of 
that monarchy seemed to depend, was the assassination 
of John II. called Sans Peur, Duke of Burgundy, upon 
the bridge of Montereau. As it does not belong to our 
subject to discuss the manner in which this fatal murder 
was committed, we shall only prove that Love was one of 
the principal causes which determined the duke to re- 
pair to that rendezvous, notwithstanding his fears and 
repugnance. France was at that time rent by three 
factions. The English, its natural enemies, advanced to 
seize upon Rouen, and perhaps upon all Normandy. 
The Duke of Burgundy, who was of the king and 

11* 



fm 



250 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

queen's party, dared not lead his troops against the En- 
glish, fearing that the dauphin would profit by his ab- 
sence to make himself master of Paris. Besides, it is pre- 
tended that this prince was in treaty with the King of 
England, whom he was not ashamed to acknowledge for 
the King of France. The dauphin, on the other side, in- 
fluenced by his minister, who detested the Duke of Bur- 
gundy, prevented him from returning to the court and 
from accepting the terms of a reconciliation, which the 
duke had many times offered, though in doing this he 
was always desirous of preserving his authority. In this 
melancholy situation, the Duke of Burgundy, who pre- 
tended to love his country, but who gave up all to ambi- 
tion, not being able to bring over the dauphin to his 
measures, thought himself obliged to preserve the king- 
dom by entering into a negotiation with the English. 
The two courts met at Meulan. They had several con- 
ferences, and had agreed upon almost all the conditions, 
when the ministers of the dauphin, judging that their 
master would not alone be able to resist the Duke of 
Burgundy, united with the English and sent a secret ex- 
pedition to break off the negotiation of the latter with 
the duke. The messengers employed, knowing that the 
duke was passionately in love with the wife of Lord de 
Giac, his chancellor, won her to their interests, and 
through her means, as she absolutely governed the duke, 
the treaty with the King of England was broken off. This 
rupture was soon followed by a treaty between the dau- 
phin and the duke, a treaty to which the two princes sol- 
emnly swore in a conference at Poilly-le-fort, to which 
place Madame Giac had accompanied the duke her lover. 
In this interview the Duke of Burgundy and the dauphin 
appeared sincerely reconciled, and a second meeting was 



MADAME GIAC. 251 

agreed upon at Montereau. In the interval which fol- 
lowed, the duke made some serious reflections. The assas- 
sination of the Duke of Orleans, which a wounded con- 
science incessantly recalled to his remembrance, made 
him fear that reprisals might be made. These suspicions 
made him change the day of the interview to one more 
distant ; but when the time proposed by the duke him- 
self arrived, he found his irresolution equally great. 
They had then recourse to Madame Giac, whose advice 
determined the duke to depart for Bray, when he again 
fell into his former incertitude. Madame Giac, who had 
followed him to that place, seeing him so agitated, offered 
to go to Montereau, assuring him that she should there 
be able to penetrate into the secrets of' the dauphin's 
court, and to discover whether any evil design was 
agitated in his council. Madame Giac was received with 
all the distinction due to the woman who governed a 
prince whom they so much wished to have in their pow- 
er. She returned from Montereau, and tried to dissipate 
the uneasiness of the duke, by advising him to give him- 
self up with an entire confidence ; and the duke departed, 
fully persuaded that his life could not have a better guar- 
antee than one given by a woman so interested in pre- 
serving it. 

The prince loved her with such tenderness, that in 
entering the castle of Montereau, his whole attention 
was engrossed in providing for the safety of this lady. 
He confided her to the care of Jonvelle and Toulougeon, 
leaving them two hundred armed men, and a hundred 
archers. These precautions taken, the duke proceeded 
to the bridge, upon which he was killed by those who 
accompanied the dauphin, along with several of his men, 
who also lost their lives in his defence. The fatal conse- 



252 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

quences which accrued to the kingdom from this murder 
are well known, but it is not so easily discovered 
whether this assassination were premeditated. It is still 
another problem whether Madame Giac deceived her 
lover, or employed the influence she had upon his mind, 
solely with the intention to establish a good understand- 
ing between him and the Dauphin. This, however, is 
certain, and it makes strongly against the lady, that 
after the death of the duke, she espoused the cause of 
the dauphin, as also did her husband, discovering not 
the least repugnance to unite herself with the murderers 
of her lover. 

This step caused strong suspicions that she had en- 
tered into the conspiracy of the duke's death. What 
still argues further the treachery of Giac and his wife, is 
that the latter nobleman, having become the favorite of 
Charles VII., basely betrayed his new master. The 
high-constable de Richmont caused him to be arrested, 
upon which he made confession of the most enormous 
crimes and was put to death. 

History gives us still further reason to form unfavor- 
able conjectures as to the conduct of Madame Giac in 
this instance. The Duke de Richmont expected, it is 
true, restitution of the immense riches Lord Giac had 
amassed by illegal means. But the Duke de la Tre- 
mouille did not a little hurry on the ruin of De Giac, 
being in love with his wife, whom he married soon after 
the death of her husband, without its being discovered 
whether she contributed to her own widowhood or not. 
Madame Giac, who in some degree caused the death of 
the Duke of Burgundy, had been the innocent but true 
cause of a crime in marrying Lord Giac. She was 
named Catherine de Lisle Bouchard, and was widow of 



THE LOVES OF LOUIS XIT. 253 

the Count de Tonnerre, when his brother fell in the battle 
of Agincourt. She appeared at court still in the flower 
of her youth, with all the advantages of beauty, and the 
large accession of wealth lately fallen to her. She was 
soon the object of Giac's regard; but the young no- 
bleman was already married. Had it not been for this 
obstacle he might have hoped for the preference, as he 
possessed a fine appearance, wit, and an immense fortune, 
which had been left him by Chancellor de Giac, his 
grandfather. 

His virtue became the sacrifice to his passion. Giac 
poisoned his wife, named Jane de Gaillae. The crime 
was undiscovered, and he being approved by the lady he 
loved, married her. 

Becoming suspicious of her conduct, and willing to 
impress her with a fear of violating the conjugal faith, 
he ventured to confess the crime he had committed to 
possess her. It is surprising that this avowal did not 
restrain Madame Giac, and still more so that Giac al- 
lowed her to be the acknowledged favorite of the Duke 
of Burgundy. 



THE LOVES OF LOUIS XII. 

Louis XII., king of France, surnamed the father of 
his people, was son of Charles of Orleans, son of Duke 
of Orleans, son of Charles V. He experienced the per- 
secution of love before he ascended the throne, and was 
near losing his life. Anne of France, daughter of Louis 
XL, known by the name of Madame Beaujeau, from a 
singular whim, conceived a lively passion for the Duke 



254 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

of Orleans, while she governed the realm during the 
minority of Charles VIII., his brother. She believed 
the power she enjoyed would flatter the ambition of the 
duke — but she was deceived. The love of a woman re- 
jected, generally turns to hate, and the hatred of 
Madame Beaujeau was so violent that the Duke of 
Orleans was obliged to save himself in Brittany, where 
he took arms for Francis II. against the French. He 
was made prisoner at the battle of Saint Aubin, and 
closely confined. After the death of Charles VIII., who 
left no children, the Duke of Orleans ascended the 
throne under the title of Louis XII. Soon after, his 
passion for Anne of Brittany revived, and as he had 
touched her heart when only a prince, he appeared more 
attractive now as King of France. But there was a 
very material obstacle ; Louis was married to Jane, 
daughter of Louis XI. The princess had none of the 
attractions of beauty, and the deformity of her person 
gave reasons to fear that she would never give an heir 
to the crown. These defects were, however, compen- 
sated by the most amiable and solid virtues. Striving 
to render justice to her deformity, she had supported, 
with admirable patience, the indifference and infidelity 
of a husband she adored, and had taken the most hu- 
miliating steps to soften Madame Beaujeau. Love 
made Louis forget all these obligations; and, without 
hesitation, he divorced the unfortunate Jane. To ob- 
tain this injustice from the court of Rome, he dared to 
make an oath that he had never consummated his mar- 
riage with her, though no one credited this assertion. 
He did more, he was not ashamed to give Charlotte 
d'Albert, a princess of great merit, to Caesar Borgia, the 
greatest of all villains, adding a pension of twenty thou- 



THE LOVES OP LOUIS XII. 255 

sand livres a year. The conduct of the king was highly 
"blamed, while that of the unfortunate Jane gained every 
heart. She did not permit the slightest complaint to 
escape her lips. Dedicating to God a heart that had 
been so repulsed, she founded the Annonciades, where 
she died in the odor of sanctity, at the age of thirty-six. 
Her panegyric is pronounced at Bourges. This is one 
of her eulogies: "Jane was so ugly that she was di- 
vorced by the king, her husband ; she was so beautiful 
that she became the spouse of Jesus Christ. The ugli- 
ness and beauty of Jane, here, are the two points of my 
discourse." Louis espoused a princess whom he adored, 
but suffered for the pleasures he enjoyed. "When he 
perceived the league which the Venetians, the pope, and 
the emperor formed against him, he showed the most 
inplacable feelings; but the queen, says an historian, 
" from motives of conscience, by caresses, intrigues, and 
importunities, often disarmed the king, and made him 
relent." The mind of the king, says the same historian, 
was able to bear up under all these adversities, but he 
had a domestic trouble greater than all else, which was 
his own wife, who, alarmed with the ordinary scruples 
of her sex, could not bear the idea of his being at vari- 
ance with the pope, and holding a council against him. 
At length, being entirely conquered by her importu- 
nities, and by the remonstrances of his subjects, which, 
at her instigation, assailed him on every side, he re- 
nounced his council of Pisa, and adhered to those of the 
Lateran, by his proxies. 

Very powerful motives induced Louis XII. to promise 
in marriage his daughter to the son of the Arch-duke 
Philip ; but the people, who saw that Brittany and 
other provinces would go to the husband, were sensible 



256 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

that they ought not to consent to it. The king was also 
of this opinion, but the queen was in favor of the match ; 
and her great influence over the mind of Louis made it 
feared that this fatal alliance would be consummated. 
It was thought necessary that the kingdom should send 
deputies, who supplicated the king in the name of the 
nation to give his daughter in marriage to the Duke 
de Valois, who would probably be Louis' successor. 

Nothing less than this sort of violence would have 
decided the queen to consent to a marriage she detested. 
In the wars which Louis XII. was obliged to maintain 
in Italy, he made a victorious entry into Genoa, which 
city had revolted. A Genoese, named Thomassina Spi- 
nola, struck with the agreeable person of the king, fell 
in love with him, and requested him to be her intendio. 
Having obtained her request, she became so proud that 
she rejected with scorn the caresses of the king. Her only 
consolation, during his absence, was in writing to him 
often, whether it was to intercede for the unfortunate, or 
to plead for the interest of her country. During the 
illness of Louis XII., in 1505, a report was circulated in 
Italy that he was dead. Thomassina, abandoning her- 
self to grief, shut herself up in an obscure chamber, 
where a violent fever ended her life in less than eight 
days. The Genoese had a public funeral for her, and 
Louis caused an epitaph, written by his historian, to be 
engraven on her tomb. After the death of Anne of 
Brittany, Louis XII., probably with the intention of 
leaving an heir, married Mary, sister of Henry YIII., 
king of England, a princess young, pretty, and very 
amiable. The king, deeply enamored with his young 
wife, died at the expiration of three months. 






MARION DE LOEME. 25? 



MARION DE LOME. 

Count de Geamont, after the siege of Turin, passed 
some time in that city with his friend the Chevalier do 
Malta. They were not long before they each chose a 
lady-love. Count de Gramont addressed his vows to 
Mademoiselle de Saint-Germain, and recommended to 
his friend, Madame de Senantes. The count made an 
early impression on the heart of his favorite, but in spite 
of his vivacity and insinuating address, was not able to 
bring her passion to the conclusion he wished. In the 
meantime he observed that De Malta was not more suc- 
cessful with Madame de Senantes, for though not diffi- 
cult of access, certain preliminaries were requisite, by 
no means agreeable to the blunt sincerity of the cheva- 
lier. The count, who by this time despaired of succeed- 
ing with Mademoiselle de Saint-Germain, resolved to 
seize on the good fortune his friend neglected. He 
nattered himself it would be an easy task to render 
himself agreeable to Madame Senantes, but the difficulty 
was how to deceive her husband and the Chevalier de 
Malta. The following stratagem, which the count 
employed for this purpose, is laughable, and does honor 
to the wit of the little god who inspired it. " The two 
friends having supped at the country seat of Monsieur de 
Senantes, Count de Gramont, gave De Malta to under- 
stand that it was necessary to return the civility at their 
own apartments. M. de Senantes was accordingly 
invited. His figure was not calculated to interest any 
one in his behalf, and he was rendered perfectly disgust 
ing by his conversation, which was entirely destitute of 



258 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

wit or information. Previous to this visit, the count 
had informed M. de Senantes that De Malta was a very- 
learned man, though in reality there was nothing the 
chevalier detested more than books and erudition. 
During supper, M. de Gramont requested his guest to 
tell him the name of his lady's family ? He replied (as 
the count expected) by a genealogy which promised to 
be endless. De Malta becoming wearied, attempted to 
change the subject, but M. De Senantes, shrugging his 
shoulders, continued his narrative. The chevalier, at 
length growing desperate, interrupted the discourse by 
saying, " Do you not remember, sir, that it is better to 
know too little than too much ?" M. de Senantes took 
offence at these words, and a serious quarrel would cer- 
tainly have ensued, had not Count de Gramont interfered, 
and so far reconciled them, that De Senantes, at parting, 
invited them both to his country seat the following day. 
In the morning De Malta went out on a hunting-party, 
and M. de Senantes to his country seat, to prepare for 
the reception of his friends. The count, in the meanwhile, 
artfully circulated a report that the Chevalier de Malta 
and M. de Senantes, had disputed during dinner on the 
preceding day, and that they had been absent since 
an early hour. The princess, alarmed at this intelligence, 
immediately sent for the Count de Gramont, who feigned 
great surprise, but confessed that he had been present 
the night before when some words passed between his 
friends. He added, if the mischief was not already done, 
the shortest way would be to have them both arrested. 
They found M. de Senantes at his country house, where 
the officer, without assigning his reasons, consigned him 
to the guards, in whose custody he remained in utter 
astonishment. When De Malta returned from the hunt, 



MARION DE LORME. 259 

the princess sent the same officer to request that he 
would not leave his house till the next day ; and to his 
great surprise without assigning any reason. He therefore 
dispatched a messenger to his friend, but De Gramont 
had not yet returned from the country. The count had 
found Senantes highly incensed at being made a prisoner 
in his own house, on account of a man he designed to 
entertain as his guest. He complained of Malta with 
great asperity, and begged the count to assure the 
chevalier, as he loved so to dispute, on the first opportu- 
nity he would give him enough of it. Count de Gra- 
mont assured him that his friend had not the least know- 
ledge of this unlucky affair ; but on the contrary, esteemed 
him greatly. He said it must have originated from his 
lady, who was probably alarmed at the reports of the 
lacquies who served at table, and had been to the prin- 
cess to prevent the fatal consequences of a supposed duel. 
He added that he had no doubt himself increased the 
fears of his lady, as he had frequently mentioned to her 
that Malta was one of the most adroit swordsmen in 
France. M. de Senantes, much softened by this recital, 
said that he should severely reprimand his wife for her 
impertinent tenderness, and was anxious to see again his 
dear friend Malta. The chevalier enjoined the guards 
not to suffer De Senantes to escape, as he still retained 
the resolution of encountering De Malta, and they would 
be accountable for the consequences. Having by this 
means secured De Senantes, Gramont wished equally to 
secure the other. Without loss of time he returned to 
the city. De Malta no sooner saw him than he exclaimed 
petulantly, " What the devil does this all mean, and 
wherefore am I detained a prisoner on parole?" The 
count replied, " It is because thou art so absurd as to 



■i^l^BWIWMII I 1' ~l I 



260 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

dispute with a fantastic fellow, fit only to excite your 
laughter. Some officious valet has no doubt published 
the contest of last evening. This has caused the princess 
to take these precautions. Senantes is under arrest, but 
your word is considered sufficient. This certainly 
demands your gratitude instead of anger, and you should 
return your humble thanks to her highness for the inter- 
est she has taken in this affair. I am now going to the 
palace, where I will endeavor to clear this mystery. In 
the mean while, you had better order supper, for I shall 
join you in a few moments." Malta, considering the 
views of his friend as perfectly reasonable, charged him 
not to omit to testify his gratitude to her royal highness. 
The Count de Gramont soon returned with several 
friends, who had come to offer their services against the 
peaceable Senantes. Malta, after expressing his thanks, 
detained them to supper. Gramont then drew Malta 
aside and told him in the greatest confidence that the 
little Saint Germain had at last appointed a rendezvous. 
It is for this purpose that I shall leave the company 
under pretence of going to play at court. Malta, charmed 
with this confidence, returned to the table and exerted all 
his spirits to comply with De Gramont's request. The 
party did not separate till late, and Malta rested content 
with the services he had done his friend. The tender 
Senantes meanwhile received the bold intriguer with 
gratitude, and appeared everything that was seducing." 

Love, who favored the count in this instance, was not 
always so kind. Upon the death of the Cardinal Maza- 
rine, Gramont became enamored of Mademoiselle de la 
Motte Houdancourt, one of the daughters of the queen- 
mother. Nothing was more imprudent than this passion, 
as he was not ignorant that the king had cast a favor- 



MARION DE LORME. 261 

able glance upon this lady. The count soon observed 
that his passion was troublesome and disgusting, but he 
resolved to overcome all obstacles. It was then he 
learned that if love renders all conditions equal, it was 
not so between rivals. He was banished from the court, 
and went to England. Before his departure he had a 
pleasant adventure. He had obtained a promise of a 
rendezvous with Marion de Lorme, a girl of singular 
beauty, wit, and caprice. The count was congratulating 
himself upon his good fortune, when he received a billet 
from his mistress, filled with complainings and despair, 
that a severe pain in the head would deprive her of the 
pleasure of seeing him till the next day. This sudden 
illness appeared suspicious to the count, and he sent out 
spies, who confirmed his fears. He then determined to 
interrupt the happiness of his rival, and profit by it him- 
self. As he had some distance to go from his own 
house to that of his mistress, when night came, he 
mounted his horse without an attendant. As he went 
out of the Royal square, he saw a man whom he knew 
to be the Duke de Brissac, and feeling that this was his 
rival, jumped from his horse in great haste. " Brissac, 
my friend," said he, " you must do me a favor of great 
importance. I have an appointment for the first time 
at the house of a person a few paces off. Lend me your 
cloak if you love me, and walk my horse till I return ; 
but do not go far from hence. You see I use you freely, 
but it is a matter of vast importance." 

The count took the cloak without waiting for an 
answer, and the duke the horse. He glided along 
under the arches to the door of De Lorme, who opened 
it without hesitation. Gramont was so well disguised in 
the duke's cloak, that he was mistaken for him, and the 



262 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

door being shut, he passed unquestioned to the parlor 
of the lady. He found her reclining on a sofa, in the 
most becoming dishabille, and never appeared to better 
advantage. Seeing her confusion, he said — 

" How is it, my charmer, that, being indisposed, you 
are so elegantly attired ? The headache, I suppose, is 
gone ?" 

" No," replied she ; " I still have it, and you will 
oblige me by leaving, and let me retire to my bed." 

" As to leaving you," said Gramont, " I cannot ; we 
do not take so much pains to adorn ourselves for nothing." 

"You will see, nevertheless," replied she, "that it will 
gain nothing to you." 

Finally, after much discussion, the count, seeing that 
she carried rather a high hand, said — 

" Mademoiselle, I am aware of your discomposure ; 
you fear ^he arrival of Brissac ; but be easy on that 
score, for he will not pay you so early a visit. He is 
now at the top of the street, walking my horse ; and if 
you will not believe me, I have left his cloak in your 
ante-chamber, where you can see it." 

Here a fit of laughter succeeded to her astonishment, 
and, embracing the chevalier, said she, " You are too 
amiable not to be forgiven all." 

The count then related the particulars, and De Lorme 
was ready to die with laughter, and separating good 
friends, assured the count that his rival might walk 
horses as long as he pleased, for he should not visit her 
that day. 

The count found Brissac faithfully where he left him, 
and with many thanks for the service he had done him, 
returned him his cloak. The duke, perfectly friendly, 
insisted upon holding his horse till he had remounted. 



MAEGAEET OF NAVAEEE. 263 

The count bid him good-night, and returned home per- 
fectly reconciled with both his mistress and rival. This 
beautiful Marion de Lorme had been the favorite of 
Cinq Mars, who, it is said, privately married her. She 
was from Chalon, in Champagne, and was known by 
three names, which she acquired by love. She was 
called Madame Le Grand, on account of M. Cinq Mars ; 
Madame le Cardinal, from the Cardinal de Richelieu, 
who, in her boudoir, sometimes relaxed from the weighty 
matters of the state ; and Madame la Surintendante, on 
account of the Superintendent D emery, who repaid her 
smiles like a superintendent. 



MARGARET OF NAVARRE. 

Hexet de Loeeaine, Duke of Guise, was one of those 
men whom nature rarely forms, and who has only to 
appear to be beloved. His ambition, and the violent 
remedy Henry IH. was obliged to employ against him to 
retain the sovereignty, is well known. He, above all, 
acquired the greatest enrpire over women; and it is 
thought that many husbands found great relief in his 
death. His success in this respect made him neglect his 
wife ; but it is said that she herself made amends for it, 
and the assassination of Saint Megrin confirmed this 
report. It was believed that the duke was the author 
of Megrin's death ; and we are assured that the King of 
Navarre said upon hearing of it, " I am obliged to the 
Duke of Guise, my cousin, for not suffering such a min- 
nion as Saint Megrin to dishonor him." Others, how- 
ever, differ on this point. If the Duke of Guise experi- 



264 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

enced chagrin on account of his wife's conduct, love 
made him amends, particularly in the success of his passion 
for Margaret of France, afterwards Queen of Navarre. 
He became enamored of this princess in an interview 
between the courts of France and Spain, at Bayonne. 
During the tilts and tournaments, at which Margaret was 
present to crown the victors, the young Duke of Guise 
was several times at the feet of the princess to receive 
the coveted prize, and in those moments he inspired and 
felt the most ardent passion. At a ball which was after- 
wards given, the duke, under the disguise of an astro- 
loger, had the boldness to declare his passion for the 
princess. This dawn of happiness was soon orercast. 
The queen-mother had perceived the new-born passion 
of the duke for her daughter, and not willing that the 
princess of Lorraine, already too puissant, should become 
more so by this alliance, she insisted upon the duke's 
absenting himself for some time. The Cardinal de Lor- 
raine, chief of his house, made the duke in spite of him- 
self content, and he departed for Hungary, where there 
had been a war between the duke and the emperor. 
Previous to his starting, he had the address to write a 
letter to the princess, in which he painted his passion in 
lively colors, and acquainted her with the motives of his 
departure. Winter having ended this war in Hungary, 
the Duke of Guise returned to France. He caused a 
gentleman named Chastelles to precede him, who was 
the cousin and lover of Mademoiselle de Thorigny, maid 
of honor and confidante of the Princess Margaret. 
It was not difficult to win this lady to his interests, and 
she engaged the princess to repair, raider pretence of 
devotion, to the Abby de Poissoy, and to receive the 
duke incognito. The duke flew to the rendezvous on the 



MAEGAEET OP NAVAREE. 26- 

wings of love, and threw himself at the fee* -* 
adored mistress. It is unnecessary to give the p^ 
lars of this interview; the result was a promise from 5 
princess to marry the duke. 

Political interests soon after disunited the 1 " 
love had formed. The queen-mother, incem 
the Protestants, and not being able to destroy 
recourse to artifice and stratagem. She affe 
esteem for the Admiral de Coligni, chief of the 
not party, and to convince him of the sinceri^ 
reconciliation, cunningly proposed a marriage bet>, 
Margaret and the King of Navarre. When r v 
liminaries were settled, she informed the p 
soon showed her displeasure at the" pr 
mother. After this visit in which she wa 
the project, Margaret wrote the following 
lover : 

" The queen has been to inform me that my man 
with the King of Navarre has been resolv^ 
this cruel stroke has thrown n>° '" ' 
I will not yield to n» 
whether this u 1 ' 



Thisnei 



ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

01 the pope that famous bull, which excommu- 

^ueen of Navarre, and declared all the 

arctic pri >s incapable of succeeding to the crown. 

que -r c her, who clearly perceived the repug- 

• ighter to the King of Navarre, and her 

for the Duke of Guise, sent orders to 

from he king to marry within eight days. 

ceedings, the duke obtained an inter- 

6, x xc ncess. Thorigny asked permission to 

Ter belonging to her brought into 

wnber, an . ; u this the duke was transported into 

+ments ? Margaret. The princess is said to 

me in adorning herself for this inter- 

>e supposed their meeting was pleasing 

^ few days after, the duke espoused 

ves, widow of Prince Porcein, and 

Queen of Navarre. Both, says an 

ed by a conjugal knot, and not by 

Ms Margaret was compelled by the 

''~ rla eith<. marriage or a cloister; and 

3 it. was Tieces- 
^nal de Bon 

forcibly 

• 

in Hung: 

■ 



..en the 



MARGARET OF NAVARRE. 267 

After the death of Charles IX. and the return of 
Henry III. from Poland, the King of Navarre, and the 
Duke d'Alencon resolved to leave the court out of some 
disgust. This duke, whom report says was too fond of 
his sister, would not depart without bidding her farewell, 
and introduced himself into her apartment at night, by a 
cord which was fastened to the window, using the same 
means for his descent. The brave Bussy, who accom- 
panied him, was perceived by the Duke of Guise, and he 
needed no more to excite his jealousy of the queen. He 
immediately went to the apartments of the queen, and 
loaded her with the severest reproaches. She soon how- 
ever convinced him of his injustice toward her, and they 
were nearly reconciled when the king was announced, who 
had just been informed that Duke d'Alencon had de- 
parted quite incensed against his sister. He left her 
under guard, and quitted the apartment. The Duke of 
Guise, who was concealed in a closet, was anxious to 
withdraw, but the guards entering soon after, increased 
his embarrassment. Fortunately the officer had been 
page to the duke, and he suffered him to go by a private 
staircase disguised in a soldier's overcoat. The historian 
of Guise has endeavored to pursuade us that passion had 
no part in the affection of the duke for the princess, and 
the memoirs of the times represent the queen of Navarre 
as little acquainted with the bounds of virtue and mod- 
esty; but how does this Platonic love agree with the 
journey of the queen to the waters of Spa ? The duke 
it is said, was incognito, and apparently ill at an inn at 
Castelet, where the queen was to stop. He occupied a 
chamber communicating with that of the queen, and 
made his frequent visits with the greatest facility. It 
was in these interviews that they concluded the projects 



268 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

of the duke, — plans at which the queen would have re- 
volted had not passion blinded her reason. On her 
return to court, the queen sought all possible pretences 
to avoid rejoining her husband, but an unlucky circum- 
stance obliged her. One of her couriers was arrested, 
and her letters to the Duke of Guise fell into the hands 
of Henry III., who had the wickedness to send them to 
the King of Navarre. He a short time afterwards 
challenged the Duke of Guise to combat, under pretence 
of religion, but jealousy was the true cause — the combat 
however did not take place. To paint Queen Margaret's 
passion for the Duke of Guise two fabulous anecdotes 
are recited. It is said that in the battle at which the 
Swiss and Germans came to the succor of the Hugue- 
nots, the Queen of Navarre appeared disguised as a 
chevalier, and that she fired a pistol, and struck on the 
head with her sword, Marquis d'Ouar, chief of the Ger- 
mans. Finally it is said that this princess, being at 
Ager, and informed by the Duke of Mayenne of the 
danger of the Duke of Guise at the States of Blois, 
pretended to have an inflammation in her eyes and closed 
her apartment, caused Thorigny to occupy her bed, and 
taking the habit of a courier, repaired to Blois, when 
she gained admittance to the apartments of the duke and 
remained with him the greater part of the night preced- 
ing his death. With regard to the passion of the Duke 
of Guise for Margaret of Navarre, it is well known to 
be a fact. Charles IX. ordered Henry d'Angouleme, 
grand prince, and natural brother, to assassinate the duke 
for his presumption, but it was not executed through 
cowardice, and the duke was apprised of the design, and 
married. 



LOVES OF HENRY IV. 269 



LOVES OF HENRY IY. 

The history of Henr y IV., King of France, is so well 
known from the veneration the French have always re- 
tained for that prince, that no one is ignorant of his 
weaknesses for women, and to how many misfortunes he 
was exposed by perhaps the only failing that he can 
justly be reproached with. A short time after having es- 
poused Margaret de Yalois, sister of Henry III. — a mar- 
riage formed rather by political interests than love, Hen- 
ry, who was then only King of Navarre, formed a strong 
league with the Duke of Alencon his brother-in-law. 
This union was displeasing to the queen-mother, Catha- 
rine de Medicis, because she feared these two princes 
might form projects against the king, her favorite son. 
She had recourse to love, — means which she had often em- 
ployed to advantage. Knowing the Duke of Alencon 
and the King of Navarre were both enamored of Ma- 
dame de Saure, one of the most beautiful women of the 
court, she prevailed upon this lady to inspire the two ri- 
val princes with a jealousy so mortal, that if the king had 
not interfered they would have settled their difference 
sword in hand. Queen Margaret reconciled them. It 
is known how ill this princess had conducted herself to- 
ward the good king her husband ; her passion for the 
Duke of Guise; the suspicions of the public as to her too 
close connection with her brother the Duke d' Alencon ; 
her banishment from the court by Henry III., who at the 
same time wrote her husband a letter injurious to the re- 
putation of his sister. A short time after, being desirous 
of repairing this injury, he wrote a letter of apology to 
Henry IV. Queen Margaret herself did not take any 



270 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

pains to conceal her passion for Mole, the favorite of the 
Duke d'Alencon. This person was greatly admired by 
the ladies, and equally detested by the king, for reasons 
rather founded on love than war. He was condemned 
to lose his head with Coconas. Being upon the scaf- 
fold, he said, " God and the blessed Virgin have mercy up- 
on my soul! commend me to the kind remembrance of 
the Queen of Navarre and the ladies." Queen Marga- 
ret, it is said, with the Duchess of Severs, carried away 
the heads of their two lovers, and interred them with 
their own hands. It is also added that the Queen of Na- 
varre had a passion for Saint Luc, Bussy, Duke de May- 
enne and others. Vassor says, that Henry IV. was 
much blamed for abandoning Queen Margaret so freely 
to her gallantries. If we credit the memoirs of Queen 
Margaret she had great reason to complain of the incon- 
tinency of the king, her husband, who openly loved 
Mademoiselle de Fosseuse, and whom he caused to be 
waited upon in her illness by the queen. It was 
this princess, however, herself who in reality had given 
birth to this passion. She had been long irritated 
against the king her brother, on account of his obliging 
her to retire from court, and rejoin her husband whom 
she did not love. She was still more incensed when the 
king showed her the letter of Henry III., in which all 
her intrigues were discovered. Breathing nothing but 
vengeance, she instructed the ladies of her train and their 
daughters to insinuate themselves into the hearts of those 
who had influence with her husband, so as to ensnare 
them in the fetters of love. Henry himself was the first 
to fall into the snare of Mademoiselle Fosseuse, who being 
young and innocent, punctually obeyed her mistress, but 
afterwards went beyond her orders. 



LOVES OF HENRY IV. 2Vl 

On the commencement of the League and during the 
life of Henry III., love deprived the King of Navarre 
on his side of a city. He had given the government of 
La Riole to a Huguenot captain, named Ussac, who was 
extremely ugly. The deformity of his person and his 
advanced age did not prevent him from falling deeply in 
love with one of the women of the queen-mother. This 
lady was called Atrie and was afterwards Countess de 
Chateau- Yilain. 

This occurred in a conference which the queen-mother 
contrived to have at Nerac, with the King of Na- 
varre, under pretence of conducting Queen Margaret. 
Yiscount de Turrenne who was then very young, rallied 
the good man Ussac. Henry did the same, and Ussac 
was so vexed and exasperated at this that he delivered 
up La Riole to the Catholic party. Love, which caused 
Henry IV. so much trouble and deprivation, soon gained 
for him great advantages. The queen-mother had 
brought with her to Nerac, M. Pibrac, the most eloquent 
and sensible man of his time. Neither his wisdom nor 
his virtue could resist the charms of Queen Margaret, 
who though she ridiculed his passion, nevertheless 
sought to turn it to the advantage of the king, her hus- 
band. Absolute mistress of the actions of poor Pibrac, 
they granted to the Huguenots more than they desired. 
The league tending always to prevent Henry IV. from 
attaining to the crown of France, caused this prince to 
be excommunicated by the pope. Margaret, little satis- 
fied with her marriage, seized with avidity this pretext 
for being separated from a heretic, and excommunicated 
husband. She even dared to take up arms against him, 
but she was obliged to leave Carlac, and to fly to Agen 
in the most alarming haste to save herself. The Marquis 



272 AXECDOTES OF LOVE. 

de Camillac arrested her in her flight, and detained her 
a prisoner at the castle of Usson. It is to be supposed 
that he was then ignorant of the power of beauty ; but 
forcibly struck with her charms, boldly declared his pas- 
sion for her. Margaret was too well experienced not to 
draw an advantage from his weakness. She flattered 
and caressed him, and at last wholly turned his head by 
promises which were never fulfilled. Being absolute 
mistress of her former prison, she drove out the marquis 
and kept the fortress. The assassination of Henry III. 
left the crown of France to the King of Navarre, but it 
was still for him to purchase and conquer. Henry was 
often obliged to fight without troops or money, and it 
was then he proved himself a hero, worthy the crown 
which by birth he inherited. He gained among others a 
signal victory at Coutras. Henry now was desirous of 
joining the Germans, who had come to his assistance, 
and were in a perilous situation, but the victorious army 
separated and nothing was done. Some authors attribute 
this sudden division to the impatience of the king to see 
the beautiful countess, to whom he presented the 
trophies of his victory. This fair seducer was the 
countess de Guiche, called "La Belle Corysande." Soon 
after love banished this lady from his heart and sub- 
stituted one who gained the most unbounded ascendency 
over his mind. This was the fair Gabriella d'Estrees 
and it is known that Henry was so captivated by her 
charms, that he determined to marry her. The consent 
of Margaret only was wanting, but this princess, not 
willing that the throne should be filled by a woman 
whose birth, though illustrious, did not entitle her to this 
honor, refused her consent to a divorce till the death of 
Gabriella d'Estrees. If the death of Gabriella freed 



LOVES OP HENRY IV. 273 

Henry IV. from the vexations this passion had caused 
him, he soon after fettered himself with chains equally as 
burdensome. Captivated by the charms of Mademoiselle 
d'Entragues, she by her address drew from him a pro- 
mise of marriage. Before he gave it, however, he was 
desirous of showing it to the Marquis de Rosni, to 
whom he imparted all his secrets. He gave it to Rosni, 
who read it, but made no reply for some time. At last, 
holding the paper in his hands as if to return it to the 
king, he tore it into two pieces, saying — 

" Behold, sire, since it pleased you to know it, what 
such an engagement appears to me to deserve." 

" What are you doing ?" said the king ; " you are 
surely mad." 

" It is true," replied Rosni, " I am a fool and a mad- 
man ; and wish to be the only one in France." 

This bold remonstrance did not diminish the passion of 
the king nor prevent him from giving this promise ; but 
after he espoused Mary de Medicis, his connection with 
Mademoiselle d'Entragues occasioned him great uneasi- 
ness. She always refused to return the promise, but he 
finally obtained it by giving twenty thousand crowns 
and promising the baton of Marshal of France to her 
father. 

Henry IV., some time after, whether from disgust for 
the marchioness or to mortify her, dedicated his vows 
to Mademoiselle de la Bourdaisiere, and soon after to 
Jaqueline du Bucil, who was made Countess of Moul. 
The Marchioness de Verneuil, enraged with vexation and 
jealousy, yielded to the passion of the Spanish ambas- 
sador, with whom she promised to retire to Madrid with 
the children she had by the king, and put in force the 
promise of marriage she had received from Henry. 

12* 



274 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

This conspiracy was happily discovered, the children of 
the marchioness were taken from her, and carried to 
Saint Germain, and she was disgraced. The Count 
d'Auvergne, her half-brother, who had entered into the 
conspiracy, when he found all was discovered, retired to 
his government at Auvergne, where he was arrested and 
imprisoned in the Bastille. The father of the marchioness 
was equally an accomplice in her guilt, and was arrested 
and confined in the Conciergerie. It was then that the king 
betrayed the weakness of his love, by acquainting the mar- 
chioness through her guard that she might easily obtain 
pardon if she would ask for it ; but she was too proud 
to do this. The judgment that was passed condemned the 
Count d'Auvergne and M. d'Entragues to death, and the 
marchioness to be confined in a convent. The council 
that the king assembled for advice on this occasion voted 
for the execution of the judgment ; but love prevailed 
over all the reasons they could urge, and the king 
granted the lives of the condemned, and the marchioness 
was fully discharged. 

When Henry IV. first wore the chains of Mademoi- 
selle d'Entragues, love interrupted his tranquillity in a 
most whimsical manner. Juliette Hypolita d'Estrees, 
sister of the fair Gabrielle, had a design upon the heart 
of the king. She saw that Mademoiselle d'Entragues 
had deprived her of the hopes she entertained. To 
revenge herself, she had the address to allure the Prince 
de Joinville, and by dint of caresses to obtain from him 
some letters he had written to Mademoiselle d'Entragues, 
in which he had spoken disrespectfully of the king and 
queen. Mademoiselle d'Entragues knew not how to 
reinstate herself in favor of the king, but the Prince 
de Joinville, who was ruined by the same blow, con- 



LOVES OF HENRY IV. 2*7c 

trived to extricate himself from this perplexity. He told 
Mademoiselle d'Entragues that Mademoiselle d'Estrees 
had fabricated those letters by means of a secretary of 
Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Guise, who could counter- 
feit all sorts of handwriting, and this solely with the 
view of ruining Mademoiselle d'Entragues. The secre- 
tary, who was bribed, confirmed this assertion, and she 
believed this tale. Mademoiselle d'Estrees was dismissed 
the court, and deprived of a lover whom she tenderly 
cherished. The Prince de Joinville, her lover, was 
obliged to go into Hungary to serve against the Turks, 
and the poor secretary was recompensed with a prison. 

We shall finish this article by the history of a lady, who 
of all the loves of Henry IV. caused him the most 
chagrin, and the least pleasure. We allude to the Prin- 
cess of Conde, Henrietta Charlotte de Montmorency, 
daughter of the high constable of that name. She had 
at first been promised in marriage, and even proposed to 
the Marquis de Bassompiere, with whose inclination the 
marriage accorded in every respect. On one side he 
found a charming woman, endowed with all the graces 
of mind and person ; and on the other, he became the 
possessor of an immense fortune, and formed an alliance 
with the greatest noblemen of France. The king cheer- 
fully gave his consent to the marriage, and Bassompiere 
received the congratulations of all his friends. But all 
these brilliant hopes were destroyed by love. Before 
the celebration of the marriage, the queen gave a ballet, 
in which Mademoiselle de Montmorency danced, habited 
as Diana, holding an arrow in her hand. Her graceful 
figure made such an impression upon Henry, that he 
became desperately in love. He reflected that in marry- 
ing this lady to the Marquis de Bassompiere, she would 



27G ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

probably love her husband, and be less inclined to favor 
his views. In the meanwhile, the enemies of Bassom- 
piere, envying his good fortune, advised the Prince of 
Conde to ask , Mademoiselle de Montmorency in mar- 
riage. The king was apprised of this, and took an 
opportunity one day of speaking in private to the lady, 
and begged that she would tell him frankly whether 
Bassompiere pleased her, adding that he could easily 
break it off, and give her to the prince, his nephew. 
She replied, that since it was the will of her father, she 
should esteem herself very happy with M. de Bassom- 
piere. The king, whose passion increased every instant, 
sent for Bassompiere the next day, and told him that he 
wished to marry him. " I think of marrying you to 
Mademoiselle d'Aumale, and by this marriage to renew 
the Duchy of Aumale, in your favor." "Your majesty, 
then," replied the astonished Bassompiere, " would give 
me two wives." The king replied with a deep sigh, 
" Bassompiere, I would speak to you as a friend, I am 
become not only enamored but perfectly distracted for 
Mademoiselle de Montmorency. If you marry her and 
she loves you, I must hate you. If, on the contrary, 
she would love me, you would equally detest me. It 
were better that jealousy did not destroy the friendship 
existing between us ; for I love thee with sincere affection. 
I am resolved to marry her to the Prince of Conde, and to 
fix her at court. This will be the consolation of my ad- 
vancing old age. I will give my nephew, who is young, 
an hundred thousand livres to amuse himself with, and 
shall rest content with her affection, without pretending 
to any other favor." This discourse fell like a clap of 
thunder upon the marquis ; in one moment he had all 
his happiness ravished from him ; but having no choice, 



LOVES OF HENRY IV. 277 

he thought it better to take upon himself the merit of a 
sacrifice, which he knew he must make. He told the ' 
king he was too happy in having found the opportunity 
he desired of testifying his zeal and affection for his 
majesty. The king embraced him with tears, and 
assured him of his gratitude. Some days after, the 
Prince of Conde espoused Mademoiselle de Montmo- 
rency. The prince soon perceived the passion of the 
king for his wife. He found a very tender letter which 
he had written to the princess, and discovered that he 
had visited her at Picardy, disguised in the Flemish 
habit. The prince then thought he could no longer in 
honor remain at court, and in consequence left the king- 
dom, accompanied by his wife, and went to Brussels, 
where he was well received by the arch-duke. 

" I was," says Bassompiere, " near the king when the 
news was brought him. He said to me in a low voice, 
'Bassompiere, I am a ruined man; he has carried off 
his wife. Take care of my money, and go on with the 
game, and I will go and learn the particulars.' " The 
king, after counselling with numerous persons, at last 
relished the expedient of M. de Villeroi, of whom the 
king had asked advice, and who said without hesitation, 
"that his majesty ought to dispatch one of his captains 
of the guard after them to endeavor to bring them back, 
and then to the princes of those states where they had 
probably gone, menacing them with war in case they 
refused to deliver them up. They have without doubt 
taken the route to Flanders; and the arch-duke not 
having any express orders from Spain to protect him, 
will doubtless deliver him up or drive him from the 
states." The king, however, would not fully decide 
upon this plan, till he had heard the opinion of the Duke 



278 ANECDOTES OP LOVE. 

of Sully. "What is to be done?" asked his majesty. 
" Nothing," replied Sully. " Nothing !" said the king. 
" Yes, nothing," replied the duke. " If you do nothiug, 
and appear to take no thought of him, no one will assist 
him, not even his friends and servants, and in three 
months, pressed by necessity, you will have him on what 
terms you please; but if you appear too desirous to 
recall him, they will, out of opposition, detain him." The 
king, who was chagrined and impatient, would not 
accept of his advice, but was guided* by that of the 
President Jeannin, and the next day dispatched M. de 
Pruslin, as much to the prince as the arch-duke. 

To finish this picture, by a trait capable alone of paint- 
ing all the force and frenzy of love, we shall say with 
almost every historian, " that the great preparations for 
war that Henry IY. made before his death, had for their 
original cause, no other than his passion for the Princess 
of Conde." Mezerai, after having spoken of the vast pro- 
jects of Henry, adds: "that love was not the least 
cause of these great designs, for it is certain that Henry 
the Great would have availed himself of this opportunity 
to deliver the Princess of Conde into his hands." In a 
word, the Princess of Conde so much engrossed the 
mind of the king, that a report was circulated that he 
meant either to bear her away or to kill the prince of 
Conde at Brussels, and the latter was obliged to make 
his escape to Milan disguised as a priest. The Princess 
of Conde, who was probably the innocent cause of 
Henry's death, became afterwards the favorite of the 
Cardinal de la Yalette — at least we infer so from Ame- 
lot in his historical memoirs. He says : " The Cardinal 
de Yalette was desperately in love with the Princess of 
Conde, and she, it was said, entertained a reciprocal 



LOVES OF HENRY IV. 279 

affection for him ; for "besides the elegance of his person, 
he supplied her with what she did not obtain from her 
husband." The prince knew it so well that he always 
let her want money. Henry IV., who was at last the 
victim of the fanaticism of his age and of the madness 
of Ravaillac, narrowly escaped some years before being 
assassinated by Peter Barrier e. This unfortunate man, 
who was a native of Orleans, and only twenty-seven 
years of age when he was taken, had been a waterman 
but was afterwards a soldier. The Duke of Guise, who 
was killed at Blois, had employed him to deliver Queen 
Margaret out of the hands of Camillac, who detained 
her prisoner by order of Henry III. Barriere, in ac- 
quitting himself of this commission, became enamored 
of one of the women of the princess. The indignant 
repulse he experienced threw him into a frenzy of des- 
pair, and he endeavored to take his own life. As he 
feared eternal punishment, he had heard that to assassi- 
nate the king would be an action worthy eternal reward, 
and he resolved to attempt it. It was Branealon who 
departed from Lyons to caution Henry IV. against 
Barriere. The advice came very opportunely, and 
Barriere was arrested. He long persisted in refusing to 
discover his scheme and the name of his accomplices. 
He was condemned, first to lose his right hand, to under- 
go the torture, afterwards to be broken, and exposed 
upon the wheel at Milan ; at last burned, and his ashes 
scattered in the air. We are indebted to love for one 
of the ton mots of Henry IV. The anecdote is thus re- 
lated : " The King of Navarre, being in the chamber of 
his aunt, the Princess of Conde, was pleased with hear- 
ing a gentleman whom she loved, touch the lute. As he 
accompanied the instrument, with his melodious voice, in 



280 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

this song, " Je ne vois rien qui me contente, absent de 
ma divinite,"* the king replied, " N.'appelez pas ainsi 
ma tante, elle aime trop l'humanite."f Henry III., being 
told of it the same day, " There," said he, " is an en- 
counter worthy my brother. If it be thus he and his 
companions amuse themselves, we shall soon have peace." 
This Princess of Conde, was Frances d'Orleans, Marchion- 
ess de Rotelin. She married Louis I., of Bourbon, 
Prince of Conde, brother of d'Antoine de Bourbon, 
king of Navarre, and father of Henry .IV 



THE FAIR FANARIOTE. 

In consequence of the numerous revolutions that have 
accompanied the fall of the Greek empire in Byzantium, 
most of the inhabitants of Fanari, near Constantinople, 
boast of being descendants of the dethroned imperial 
family — a circumstance which is probable enough, and 
which nobody takes the trouble to dispute, any more 
than the alleged nobility of the Castilian peasantry, or 
the absurd genealogies of certain great families. 

In a retired street in Pera, one of the suburbs of Con- 
stantinople, a descendant of the Cantacuzenes followed 
the humble calling of butcher ; but, in spite of industry 
and activity, he had great difficulty in earning a suffici- 
ency to pay his way, and maintain his wife and his only 
daughter, Sophia. The latter had just entered her 
fourteenth year, and her growing beauty was the admi- 

* I see nothing that can make me happy,' absent from my divinity, 
f Do not thus call my aunt, she is too fond of human nature. 



THE FAIR FAXARIOTE. 281 

ration of the whole neighborhood. Fate, or, if you 
please so to call it, Providence, ordained that the 
poor butcher should suffer repeated losses, which re- 
duced hhn to a condition bordering on beggary. His 
wife unfolded his distressed circumstances to a Greek, 
one of her relations, who was a dragoman to the French 
embassy, and who, in his turn, related the story 
to the Marquis de Vauban, the ambassador. This 
nobleman became interested for the unfortunate family, 
and especially for Sophia, whom the officious dragoman 
described as being likely to fall into the snares that 
were laid for her, and to become an inmate of the 
harem of some pasha, or even of a Turk of inferior rank. 
Prompted by pity, curiosity, or perhaps by some other 
motive, the ambassador paid a visit to the distressed 
family. He saw Sophia, was charmed by her beauty 
and intelligence, and he proposed that her parents 
should place her under his care, and allow him to con- 
vey her to France. The misery to which the poor peo- 
ple were reduced may perhaps palliate the shame of 
acceding to this extraordinary proposition ; but, be this 
as it may, they consented to surrender up their daugh- 
ter for the sum of 1,500 piastres, and Sophia was that 
same day conducted to the ambassador's palace. 

She found in the Marquis de Vauban a kind and libe- 
ral benefactor. He engaged masters to instruct her in 
every branch of education; and elegant accomplish- 
ments, added to her natural charms, rendered her an 
object of irresistible attraction. 

In the course of a few months, the ambassador was 
called home, and he set out, accompanied by this Orien- 
tal treasure, to travel to France by land. To diminish, 
as far as possible, the fatigue of a long journey, they 



282 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

proceeded by short stages, and having passed through 
European Turkey, they arrived at Kaminietz, in Podo- 
lia, which is the first fortress belonging to Russia. Here 
the marquis determined to rest for a short time, before 
undertaking the remainder of his tedious journey. 

Count de Witt, a descendant of the grand pensionary 
of Holland, who was governor of the place, received his 
noble visitor with every mark of attention. The count, 
however, no sooner beheld Maria, than he became 
deeply enamored of her ; and on learning the equivocal 
situation in which she stood — being neither a slave nor a 
companion, but, as it were, a piece of merchandise pur- 
chased for 1,500 piastres — he wound up his declaration 
of love by an offer of marriage. The count was a hand- 
some man, scarcely thirty years of age, a lieutenant-gen- 
eral in the Russian service, and enjoying the high favor 
of his sovereign, Catherine II. The fair Creek, as may 
well be imagined, did not reject this favor of fortune, but 
accepted the offer of her suitor without hesitation. 

It was easy to foresee that the Marquis de Vauban 
would not be very willing to part with a prize which he 
regarded as lawfully acquired, and to which he attached 
no small value. The count, therefore, found it advisable 
to resort to stratagem. Accordingly, his excellency 
having one day taken a ride beyond the ramparts, the 
draw-bridges were raised, and the lovers repaired to 
church, where their hands were joined by a papa. 
When the marquis appeared at the gates of the fort- 
ress, and demanded admittance, a messenger was sent 
out to inform him of what had happened ; and to com- 
plete the denollment of the comedy, the marriage con- 
tract was exhibited to him in due form. 

To save Sophia from the reproaches which her precipi- 



THE FAIR FANARIOTE. 283 

tancy — it may perhaps be said her ingratitude — would 
have fully justified, the count directed the ambassador's 
suite to pack up their baggage, and join his excellency 
extra muros. The poor marquis soon discovered that 
it was quite useless to stay where he was for the pur- 
pose of venting threats and complaints ; and he had no 
hope that the court of France would think it worth 
while to go to war for the sake of avenging his affront. 
He therefore took a hint from one of the French poets, 
who says — 

" Le bruit est pour le fat, la plainte pour le sot, 
L'honnete homrae trompe, s'eloigne, et ne dit mot," 

and he set off, doubtless with the secret determination 
never again to traffic in merchandise which possesses no 
value when it can be either bought or sold. About two 
years after this marriage the Count de Witt obtained 
leave of absence, and, accompanied by his wife, he visited 
the different courts of Europe. Sophia's beauty, which 
derived piquancy from a certain oriental languishment of 
manner, was everywhere the theme of admiration. The 
Prince de Ligne, who saw her at the court of France, 
mentions her in his memoir, in terms of eulogy, which I 
cannot think exaggerated; for when I knew her at 
Tulczin, though she was then upwards of forty, her 
charms retained all their lustre, and she outshone the 
young beauties of the court, amidst whom she appeared 
like Calypso surrounded by her nymphs. 

I now arrive at the second period of Sophia's life, 
which forms a sequel perfectly in unison with the com- 
mencement. Count Felix Patocka, at the commencement 
of the troubles in Poland, raised a considerable party by 
the influence of his rank and vast fortune. During a 



284 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

temporary absence from the court of Poland, he made a 
tour through Italy, and on his return, he met the Count 
and Countess de Witt at Hamburg, where he fell deeply 
in love with Sophia. Not to weary with the details of 
the romance, I will come to the denoiXment at once. 

Nothing is so easy as to obtain a divorce in Poland. 
The law extends so far on this point, that I know a gen- 
tleman, Mr. Wortel, who had no less than four wives, all 
living, and bearing his name. Count Patocka, therefore, 
availing himself of this advantage, and having previously 
made every arrangement necessary, one morning called 
on Count de Witt, and without further ceremony, said — 
Count, I love your wife, and cannot live without her. I 
know that I am not indifferent to her ; and I might 
immediately carry her off ; but I wish to owe my happi- 
ness to you, and retain forever a grateful sense of your 
generosity. Here are two papers, one is an act of divorce, 
which only wants your signature, for you see the count- 
ess has already affixed hers to it ; the other is a bond 
for two millions of florins, payable at my bankers in this 
city. We may, therefore, settle the business amicably 
or otherwise, just as you please. The husband doubtless 
thought of his adventure at the fortress of Kaminietz, 
and like the French ambassador, he resigned himself to 
his fate, and signed the paper. The fair Sophia became, 
the same day, the Countess Patocka ; and to the charms 
of beauty and talents, were now added the attractions 
of a fortune, the extent of which was at that time 
unequalled in Europe. 



ITCJPTIALS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 285 



NUPTIALS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 

At Susa, Alexander collected all the nobles of the 
empire, and celebrated the niost magnificent nuptials 
recorded in history. He married Barcine or Stateira, 
the daughter of the late king, and thus, in the eyes of 
his Persian subjects, confirmed his title to the throne. 
His father, Philip, was a polygamist in practice, although 
it would be very difficult to prove that the Macedonians 
in general were allowed a plurality of wives ; but Alex- 
ander was now the king of kings, and is more likely to 
have been guided by Persian than Greek opinions on the 
subject. Eighty of his principal officers followed his 
example, and were united to the daughters of the chief 
nobility of Persia. 

The marriages, in compliment to the brides, were cele- 
brated after the Persian fashion, and during the vernal 
equinox. For, at no other period, by the ancient laws 
of Persia, could nuptials be legally celebrated. Such an 
institution is redolent of the poetry and freshness of the 
new world, and of an attention to the voice of nature, 
and the analogies of physical life. The young couple 
would marry in time to sow their field, to reap their har- 
vest, and gather their stores, before the season of cold 
and scarcity overtook them. It is difficult to say how far 
this custom prevailed among primitive nations, but it can 
scarcely be doubted that we still retain lingering traces 
of it in the harmless amusements of St. Valentine's day. 
On the wedding day Alexander feasted the eighty bride- 
grooms in a magnificent hall prepared for the purpose. 
Eighty separate couches were placed for the guests, and 



286 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

on each a magnificent wedding robe for every individual. 
At the conclusion of the banquet, and while the wine 
and the desert were on the table, the eighty brides were 
introduced. Alexander first rose, received the princess, 
took her by the hand, kissed her, and placed her on the 
couch close to herself. This example was followed by 
all, till every lady was seated by her betrothed. This 
formed the whole of the Persian ceremony — the salute 
being regarded as the seal of appropriation. The Mace- 
donian form was still more simple and symbolical. The 
bridegroom, dividing a small loaf with his sword, pre- 
sented one half to the bride ; wine was then poured as 
a libation on both portions, and the contracting parties 
tasted of the bread. Cake and wine, as nuptial refresh- 
ments, may thus claim a venerable antiquity. In due 
time the bridegrooms conducted their respective brides 
to chambers prepared for them within the precincts of 
the royal palace. 

The festivities continued for five days, and all the 
amusements of the age were put into requisition for the 
entertainment of the company. Athenaeus has quoted 
from Charas a list of the chief performers, which I 
transcribe more for the sake of the performances and of 
the states where these lighter arts were brought to the 
greatest perfection, than of the names, which are now 
unmeaning sounds. Scymus from Tarentum, Philistides 
from Syracuse, and Heracleitus from Mitylene, were the 
great jugglers, or as the Greek word intimates, the 
wonder-workers of the day. After them, Alexis, the 
Tarentine, displayed his excellence as a rhapsodist, or 
repeater, to appropriate music, of the soul-stirring poetry 
of Homer. Cratinus the Mythymnoean, Aristonymus 
the Athenian, Athenodorus the Theian, played on the 



NUPTIALS OF ALEXANDER THE GEEAT. 287 

harp without being accompanied by the voice. On the 
contrary, Heracleitus, the Tarentine, and Aristocrates, 
the Theban, accompanied their harps with lyric songs. . 
The performers on wind instruments were divided on a 
similar, although it could not be on the same principle. 
Dionysius from Heracleira, and Hyperbolus from Cyzi- 
cum, sang to the flute, or some such instrument ; while 
Zimotheus, Prynichus, Scaphisius, Diuphantus and 
Evius, the Calcidian, first performed the Pythian over- 
ture, and then, accompanied by choruses, displayed the 
full power of wind instruments in masterly hands. 
There was also a peculiar class called eulogists of Bac- 
chus ; these acquitted themselves so well on this occasion, 
applying to Alexander those praises which in their ex- 
temporaneous effusions had hitherto been confined to 
the god, that they acquired the name of Eulogists ot 
Alexander. ~Noy did their reward fail them. The stage, 
of course, was not without its representatives : Thessalus, 
Athenodorus, Aristocritus, in tragedy. Lycon, Phor- 
mion, and Ariston, in comedy — exerted their utmost skill, 
and contended for the prize of superior excellence. 
Phasimelus, the dancer, was also present. 

It is yet undecided whether the Persians admitted 
their matrons to their public banquets and private par- 
ties ; but if we can believe the positive testimony of 
Herodotus, such was the case ; and the summons of 
Yashti to the annual festival, and the admission of Ha- 
inan to the queen's table, are facts which support the 
affirmation of that historian. The doubts upon the sub- 
ject appear to have arisen from confounding the manners 
of the Assyrians, Medes and Parthians, with those of 
the more Scythian tribes of Persis. We read in Xen- 
ophon that the Persian women were so well made and 



288 ANECDOTES OF LOVE, 

beautiful, that their attractions might easily have seduced 
the affections of the Ten Thousand, and have caused 
them, like the lotus-eating companions of Ulysses, to for- 
get their native land. 

The Persian ladies wore the tiara or turban, richly 
adorned with jewels. They wore their hair long, and 
both plaited and curled it ; nor, if the natural failed, did 
they scruple to use false locks. They pencilled the eye- 
brows, and tinged the eyelids, with a dye that was sup- 
posed to add a peculiar brilliancy to the eyes. They 
were fond of perfumes, and their delightful ottar was 
the principal favorite. Their tunic and drawers were of 
fine linen, the robe or gown of silk — the train of this 
was long, and on state occasions required a supporter. 
Round the waist, they wore a broad zone or cincture, 
flounced on both edges, and embroidered and jewelled 
in the centre. They also wore stockings and gloves, 
but history has not recorded their materials. They used 
no sandals ; a light and ornamented shoe was worn in 
the house ; and for walking, they had a coarse half boot. 
They used shawls and wrappers for the person, and 
veils for the head ; the veil was large and square, and 
when thrown over the head, descended low on all sides. 
They were fond of glowing colors, especially of purple, 
scarlet, and light-blue dresses. Their favorite ornaments 
were pearls ; they wreathed these in their hair, wore 
them as necklaces, ear-drops, armlets, bracelets, anklets, 
and worked them into conspicuous parts of their dresses. 
Of the precious stones they preferred emeralds, rubies 
and turquoises, which were set in gold, and worn like the 
pearls. 

Alexander did not limit his liberality to the wedding 
festivities, but presented every bride with a handsome 



NUPTIALS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 289 

marriage portion. He also ordered the names of all the 
soldiers who had married Asiatic wives to l»e registered ; 
their number exceeds 10,000 ; and each received a pre- 
sent, under the name of marriage gift. 

The author of " Travels in Egypt " gives the following 
interesting account of his visit to the beauties of the Aga : 

VISIT TO THE HAREM. 

" The Harem of the Aga was situated nearly opposite to 
the residence of Mr. Taker, on the other bank of the Nile, 
in a garden, in the turkish style, that is to say a piece of 
ground without trees. I was accompanied by the lady 
of the Portuguese physician, who understood a little Ital- 
ian and Arabic, and who was to act as my interpreter. 
When we arrived at the entrance of the building, we 
were received by a black eunuch, richly dressed, who in- 
vited us to go into a very cool apartment, with latticed 
windows, and no furniture except a very broad and low 
divan. He left us to announce us to his mistress ; we 
soon after saw the two wives of the Aga, accompanied by 
two of his daughters, one of whom was yet a child, and 
the other married to one of the superior officers in the 
army, and about twenty young slaves. The two ladies, 
as well as the daughters of the Aga, seated themselves 
next to me, while the slaves ranged themselves in a half 
circle before us, with their arms crossed on the breast, 
and preserving a respectful silence. As all these women 
spoke only Turkish ; we needed a second interpreter, who, 
in her turn, understood only Turkish and Arabic, so what 
I said in Italian had to be translated into Arabic, and the 
Arabic into Turkish ; thus, to understand each other, we 
had need of three languages, and two interpreters. 

13 



290 ANECDOTES OF LOYE. 

"It may readily be supposed that the conversation could 
not go on fluently, as we depended on the good will and 
talents of our interpreters; in fact, the quid pro quo re- 
sulting from the bad translations of our questions and an- 
swers was truly comic, and excited so much gaiety that 
loud and repeated bursts of laughter soon established a 
good understanding between us. The oldest of the con- 
sorts of the Aga, however, maintained a dignified gravi- 
ty, while the other, who was much younger, and of an 
animated and interesting countenance, repeated, with ex- 
treme volubility, the most insignificant questions, and 
did not fail to examine the whole arrangement of my 
toilet. They asked me many questions respecting the 
women in my country; as for Europe, I believe they 
entertained very vague notions of it; and when I told 
them that our husbands had but one wife and no slaves, 
they looked at one another, undetermined whether to 
applaud or laugh at this custom. 

"The eldest daughter of the Aga was a young woman 
of the most beautiful and pleasing countenance. She did 
not enjoy good health; her extreme paleness rendered 
her really interesting in my eyes ; she resembled a lily, 
languishing and withered by the burning wind of the 
desert. She appeared to cherish life from the idea that 
I, perhaps, possessed the skill to cure her, and earnestly 
entreated me to prescribe some remedy. There is some- 
thing singular in the conviction generally entertained by 
the Orientals, that all Europeans, without distinction, 
have a knowledge of medicine and necromancy, arts 
commonly confounded with one another. It several 
times happened to us in Upper Egypt, to be called to the 
assistance of persons actually dying, or in so desperate a 
state that nothing less than a conjuror would have been 



NUPTIALS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 291 

required to preserve their lives. Without being a distin- 
guished disciple of Hippocrates, it is easy to acquire the 
reputation of an able physician; and the really skilled 
medical man who accompanied us during our tour in Up- 
per Egypt, was accustomed, on such occasions, that is 
when the case was not desperate, in imitation of the cele- 
brated Sangrado, of happy memory, to administer only the 
most simple remedies, which never failed to produce a 
prompt and marvellous , effect. So mnch influence has 
the imagination of these children of nature on their cure. 
"But to return to my fair odalisques. They were 
nearly all natives of Syria, Circassia, and Georgia, and I 
had thus leisure to survey these beauties who enjoy so 
much celebrity. They undoubtedly merit their reputa- 
tion ; I can, however, tell my fair countrywomen, to 
comfort them, and to do justice to truth, that Europe 
can certainly boast of beauties equal to those of the 
East. Those whom I had now the pleasure of seeing, 
had the most agreeable countenances and delicate and 
regular features; but what most attracted my admira- 
tion was their hair, which fell in waving and natural curls 
down to their waist. They had each preserved their 
national costume, which agreeably varied this pretty 
parterre ; nor had they adopted the tresses of the 
Egyptian, which rather disfigure than improve the 
coiffure. They had exquisitely beautiful teeth, but the 
clearness and bloom of youth were banished from their 
complexion ; they all had a languid air, and I did not 
find among them the embonpoint which I had expected 
to meet. Perhaps their sedentary mode of life, and the 
destructive climate of Egypt, have contributed to tar- 
nish the lustre of their charms. The climate of Egypt, 
otherwise so salubrious, exercises a malignant influence 



292 ANECDOTES OF LOVE. 

upon female beauty, and on the children of European 
parents. 

" Refreshments were brought in on a small table of 
cedar, very low, and ornamented with a pretty mosaic of 
ivory and mother-of-pearl ; collation consisted of confec- 
tionery, cakes made of honey, and fruits, sherbet. 
Meantime some slaves burnt incense in silver censers, 
and frequently sprinkled us with rose water ; two others 
placed themselves at my side ; and every time that I 
either ate or drank anything, were ready to hold under 
my lips a napkin of a coarse quality, yet embroidered 
with gold. Others, provided with fans, drove away the 
swarms of insects which the pastry and fruit had 
attracted around us. In short, each seemed to have a 
particular function to perform. When the repast was 
ended they wished me to pass the night with them and 
to take the bath, but having already acquainted myself 
with this kind of amusement at Cairo, I declined their 
polite invitation. After going over the house, which did 
not contain anything remarkable, I took my leave ; and 
on departing distributed among the slaves some small 
gold coins, to which they attached a great value." 



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— to behave well in company — to keep house properly — to dance — to make 
ornamental vases, by the new art of Porchomanie, or Wax work, and other 
fancy employments for the ladies : to establish acquaintances according 
to the rules of etiquette — to enjoy an hour at curious puzzles and arith- 
metical questions — to do up a neat parcel — to relieve the invalid — to ac- 
quaint yourself with the technical terms in literature, law, and medicine — 
in short, to do every useful thing that can be thought of or imagined, 
whether at home or abroad, or among your friends, or in your business, or 
on your farm, or in your garden, or at & public meeting, or at a private 
assembly. It contains tables of all weights and measures ; Interest Tables 
from $1 to $10,000 atsix and seven percent., besides innumerable tables on 
Interesting and Curious Subjects. It gives complete directions how to 
wash, starch, and iron — how to keep the eyes, hair, teeth and complexion in 
perfect order — how to punctuate, spell and write correctly — how to com- 
pose all kinds of letters, from the billet-deaux to the business letter— how 
to clean furniture, take care oipet animals — how to measure all kinds of 
mechanic's work — how to detect fraudulent scales — and all about the proper- 
ties and uses of different medicines. Indeed this is really and truly one of 
the most wonderful and valuable books ever printed. Besides all this in- 
formation — and we have not room to give an idea of a hundredth part of it— 
it contains so many Valuable and Useful receipts that an enumeration of 
them requires SEVENTY-TWO COLUMNS OF FINE TYPE FOE THE 
INDEX. If you wish to consult law or physic, buy this book ! If you 
want to learn mechanically how to do a little of everything that is useful, 
buy it ! If you have any literary vanity, and wish to become a blue-stock- 
ing — or if you desire to make a sensation in almost any way, this book 
will tell you exactly how to do it ! It is no collection of ancient sayings 
and receipts, but the whole are fresh and new, and suited to the present 
times. As a book to keep in the family for reference, it is unequaled, com- 
prising as it does all kinds of Books of In formation in a single volume. 
Send cash orders to DICK & FITZGERALD. 

No. 18 Ann Street, New York. 



A Book of W ever-Ending entertainment. 



THE SOCIABLE; 

OR, 

One Thousand and One Home Amusements. 

CONTAINING 

ACTING PROVERBS, DRAMATIC CHARADES, ACTING CHARADES, OR 

DRAWING-ROOM PANTOMIMES, MUSICAL BURLESQUES, TABLEAUX 

VIVANTS, PARLOR GAMES, GAMES OF ACTION, FORFEITS, SCIENCE 

IN SPORT AND PARLOR MAGIC, AND A CHOICE COLLECTION 

OF CURIOUS MENTAL AND MECHANICAL PUZZLES, &c. 

By the author of "The Magician's Own Book." 

Illustrated with nearly 300 Engravings and Diagrams, 

THE WHOLE BEING A FUND OE NEVER-ENDING ENTERTAINMENT. 
Nearly 400 pages, 12mo., Cloth, gilt side stamp, $1.00. 



" The Sociable" will be found one of 
the most extensively popular family 
books ever issued from the press. As its 
title implies, it is a collection — a com- 
plete repertoire — of the 

AMUSEMENTS OF HOME, 

Embracing a large and comprehensive 
list of recreative pastime, arranged as 
follows: 

Parlor Theatricals, including Acting 
Proverbs, Acting Charades, Dramatic 
C harades and Tableaux Vivants ; G-ames 
of Action; Games requiring Memory 
and Attention; Games requiring Wit 
and Intelligence ; Ruses, or Catch 
Games; Forfeits ; Puzzles ; Fireside 
Games forWinter Evenings, and Science 
in Sport, and Parlor Magic, 

Many of these Games— the majority 
of them — are entirely new, as are, 
also, the 

PARLOR THEATRICALS 



TABLEAUX YIVANTS, 

Which were prepared expressly for 
this work. Everything in the book is 
superior of its kind — the greatest care 
having been taken to exclude everthing 
that was not above the standard of me- 
diocrity in interest and ingenuity. It is 



THE ONLY BOOK 

OF THIS KIND 

Ever Published in America, 

And as it will be invaluable to Families, 
Schools, Social Clubs, etc., as a book of 
reference on all matters of Amusement 
and Recreation, there must be a steady 
and permanent demand for it at all sea- 
sons and in all years, although few of 
the so-called "Holiday Books" are as 
appropriate for Gifts as The Sociable. 
Each department is amply illus- 
trated with 

BEAUTIFUL WOOD ENGRAVINGS 

Which render the Text clear, and fully 
explain all the Puzzles, the Mechanical 
Contrivances mentioned, and other 
things difficult to describe in writing. 
It is elegantly bound, so as to be an 
ornament to any center-table, and its 
typographical execution is a specimen 
of the highest excellence. 

The need of such a collection of HOME 
GAMES has long been felt, and the pub- 
lishers believe that this endeavor on 
their part, to supply that want, must 
meet with the fullest success. They 
have spared neither trouble nor expense 
to render it a complete and invaluable 
vade mecum of Domestic Amusements, 
so that its name may be familiar as a 
"Household Word" in all families, north, 
south, east and west, where the value 
of wholesome and innocent recreation is 
recognized. 



Price only One Dollar, bound in cloth, with gilt side and back stamp, sent to any 
address in the United States, free of postage. Send cash orders to 

DICK & FITZGERALD, Publishers, 

18 .A.rm. Street, IN"ew York, 



EVERY MAN A MAOICIAJNL 



THE MAGICIAN'S OWN BOOK; 

OR, 

8t{j* WBUfoh %xi 0f Cwrjwring, 

JMng a Complete Hand-Book of Parlor Magic, containing over One Thousand 
Optical, Chemical, Mechanical, Magnetical, and Magical Experiments, 
Amusing Transmutations, Astonishing Sleights and Subtleties, Cele- 
brated Card Deceptions, Ingenious Tricks with Numbers, Curious 
and Entertaining Puzzles— Together with all the most Noted 
Tricks of Modern Performers. The whole Illustrated with 

OVKJR 500 "WOOD CUTS, 

And intended as a source of amusement for 

ONE THOUSAND AND ONE EVENINGS. 

12mo., cloth, 400 pages ; gilt side and back stamp. Price, One Dollar, sent 
free of postage. 



Here is a book for the long winter evenings, and one that will make all 
merry and happy. It contains over a THOUSAND TRICKS, of every descrip- 
tion, and they are all explained so clear and explicitly that any person can 
comprehend and perform them with ease. It also contains numerous CURIOUS 
PUZZLES, with patterns showing how they are done, any one of which will 
afford amusement enough for a whole evening. There is, aiso, the best collec- 
tion of wonderful CARD DECEPTIONS ever yet published, any one of which 
is worth more than double the price of the book. This work also contains a 
splendid collection of CURIOUS TRICKS WITH NUMBERS, and embraces 
several hundred tricks never before in print. It is ao catchpenny affair, but a 
standard work, containing every variety of Experiment in Conjuring, Cards, 
Legerdemain, Transmutations, the Magic of Chemistry, the Magic of Me- 
chanics, the Magic of Pneumatics, the Magic of Numbers, the Magic of Art, 
the Magic of Strength, the Magic of Magnetism, the Magic of Secret Writing, 
Miscellaneous Curious Tricks and Fancies, &c. This book is beautifully bound 
in fine cloth, with gilt side and back stamp, and is illustrated with 

OVER 500 WOOD ENGRAVINGS, 

Eesides a Tinted Title Page and Frontispiece. Price, ONE DOLLAR, and 
sent to any address, free of postage. 

Send cash orders to 

DICK & FITZGERALD, 

|JVo. 18 Ann Street, New York. 



THE FOU NTAIN O F ALL KN OWLEDGE. 

THE REASON WHY: 



A CABEFUL COLLECTION OF 



JSome ftjooasanbg of gjLeaaons for Scrags fojjkjj, %tt0|j feerallg 
J^ttofon, are gmp*rfemg Swbergtooo. 

A BOOK OF CONDENSED SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE FOR THE MILLION." 



BY THE AUTHOR OF "INQUIRE WITHIN." 

This is a goodly sized volume of 356 pages, comprising a sort of Encyclo- 
pedia of Scientific Information of all kinds. It is arranged with an Alpha- 
betical Index, in referring to which you can solve almost any problem in 
Natural Philosophy or Learned Science that may come up. It is a book that 
will give you the cream of the information that a long course of practical ex- 
periments and profound study has imparted to the savants and philosophers 
of this progressive age. It contains a collection and solution of 
Thirteen Hundred & Thirty-Two Facts in Science «& Philosophy, 
some of which , on there first discovery, puzzled the most learned and apt scholars. 

It is useless to go into details of this excellent work. Suffice it to say, 
that it treats on every imaginable subject pertaining to Causes and Effects, 
and must necessarily be invaluable to all persons who desire KNOWLEDGE, 
and whose means and position in life have prevented them from acquiring it 
by a regular and tedious course of Study. 

We hesitate not to say, that any one who closely reads this volume will ob- 
tain as much real learning in a few days as years of study and patient research 
would afford them in a regular course. In a word it makes you a learned and 
refined person with spending but very little money, time or trouble. 

No pains have been spared by the Author to make this a popular book, in 
fact a book for the million, and some idea may be formed of its vast usefulness 
when we inform the reader that THE REASON WHY has an 

Index of Contents requiring Forty Columns of Fine Type. 

No person who desires to figure in refined and intelligent circles should delay pur- 
chasing a copy of this capital work, for it will furnish thousands of ideas and im- 
portant topics of conversation, so that the most ignorant person by reading it will 
be posted up on all scientific subjects. 

What Haydn's Dictionary of Dates is in regard to historical events, this wonderful 
book is in respect to scientific facts. The plan of the book and its execution, leave 
nothing to be desired. We can cordially recommend this work to all those inquirers, 
young and old, of both sexes, who are never satisfied until they know the 
" reason why." 

The man who goes out into the world, or attempts to attend properly to his 
domestic duties, will find himself, however abundantly supplied . with books or 
bullion, perpetually embarrassed for the want of small facts and small change. 
This volume supplies the 

Ready Coin of Conversation, 
In the shape of SCIENCE FOR THE MILLION, and makes even the neglected in 
early studies feel quite at home upon every topic likely to be discussed within the 
ordinary range of the social circle. It imparts 

Practical Information on the Subject of Practical Facts. 

It may be denominated, Science made easy, or a world of useful every-day learn- 
ing condensed into a volume for your pocket ! 

THE EEASON WHY 
Is a handsome 12mo. volume of 356 pages, printed on fine paper, bound in cloth, gilt, 
and embellished with a large number of Wood Cuts, illustrating the various subjects 
treatedof. PEICE ONE DOLLAR. 

V*W Copies mailed to any address in the United States or Canada, free of postage. 
Send your Cash orders to DICK & FITZGERALD, Publishers, 

No. 18 Ann Street, New Yoek. 



MANUAL OF FANCY WOE! ; 

h Embro'ry, Tap'se D'Auxorre, 
Pork, Tape-Work, 

Braiding, Knotting, Patch-Work, Transferring, 

Bobbin-Work, Lace-Work, Point Lace, * Velvet Balls, 

Crochet, Muslin-Work, Potichomanie, Wire-Work, 

Shading and Coloring, Printers' Marks, Explanatory Terms, Etc., etc. 

With a List of Materials, and Hints for their Selection; Advice on Making up and 
Trimming ; A Catalogue of Articles suitable for Wedding, Birthday, 
and New Year Gifts ; and a Glossary of French and Ger- 
man Terms, used in Needle-work, not to be 
found in any Dictionary. 
THE WHOLE BEING A COMPLETE 

LEXICON OF FANCY NEEDLE-WORK. 

By 1VLJRS. JPTJIiljAZSr, 

EDITOR OF 
" The London and Paris Gazette of Fashion," and Director of the Work-table of 
Frank Leslie's Magazine, Illustrated Magazine of Art, Lady's Com- 
panion, Lady's Newspaper, Belle Assemblee, Home Circle, 
Domestic Magazine, Illustrated London 
Magazine and Family Friend. 
Illustrated with over 300 Engravings, "by the Best Artists, 

WITH EIGHT LAEGE PATTERN PLATES. 

Elegantly Printed in Colors on Tinted Paper. 

LARGE OCTAVO, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND IN FINE CLOTH, WITH GILT SIDE 
AND BACK STAMP, PRICE, $1.25. Full Gilt, with Gilt Edges, $1.75. 

There is no imaginable species of fancy needle-work, knitting, knotting, netting, 
lace- work, embroidery, crochet, &c. &c, which may not be found fully illustrated in 
this volume, and here are complete instructions for the inexperienced, from the pen 
of one of the ablest of needle-women of the present age. Here are materials for 
household amusement, sufficient to last for many years, supplying at the same 
time, an inexhaustible field of novelty and taste, and scope for ingenuity and imagi- 
nation. Here are endless resources for female industry, easily turned to profitable 
account. No husband should fail to place a copy on his wife's center-table. No 
brother should neglect to please his sister ; no lover should wait to gratify his sweet- 
heart with a vo.de mecum so admirable. This work, which is superbly gotten up, so 
as to fit it for holiday souvenirs, contains three hundred engravings, besides eight 
choic? pattern plates in handsome colors and on tinted paper, embraces minute in- 
structions for the execution of every known species of needle-work, lace-work, em- 
broidery, wire-work, crochet, knitting knotting, netting, tape-work, transferring, 
1 cad-work, Berlin-work, braiding, applique, and we know not how many more won- 
(i ri'iil, pretty, useful, profitable and entertaining kinds of light industry, adapted to 
the feminine taste and feminine fingers. It is precisely the sort of a volume that 
every lady, rich or poor, would accept with delight, and esteem beyond conception. 

Copies of the above book, mailed to any address, free of postage, upon receipt of 
lite price. Send cash orders to 

DICK & FITZOERALD, 

3STo. 18 Ann Street, ISTew York. 



JE 



RSb?-£ 



SPEAK AND WEITE CORKECjTKr: 

■ 
i 

! 

ui Oiiiiy uadncuvc, iii Speaking, vy ruing ana Pronunciation. Togetner 
with Detailed Instructions for Writing for the Press, and forms oi Articles 
in the various departments of Newspaper Literature. __ 216 pages, bound in 
Cloth, 12mo, price 50 cents, and sent to any address f"ee of postage. 

'• live and Learn" is a most useful book, designed as a Guide to Gram 
mar, Composition, and Punctuation. So few people speak or write really 
good grammar, and fewer still punctuate decently, that a book that informs 
them how to do so — and not only that indicates their faults, but shows them 
how they are to be corrected — cannot fail to be popular ; there is not a 
person indeed, who might not learn something from it. 

No work heretofore written on this subject contains one half the really 
useful information that the present does. It should be in the hand of every 
man, woman and child in the country, and is alike invaluable to the Scholar, 
the Merchant, the Farmer, and the Artizan. _ 

There are hundreds of persons engaged in professional and commercial 
pursuits, who are sensible of their deficiencies on many points .connected 
with the gnmmar of their own tongue, and who. by self-tuition, are anxious 
to correct such deficiencies, and to acquire the means of speaking and 
writing, if not with elegance at least with a due regard to grammatical ac- 
curacy, to whom this little work is " indispensible." Asa book of refer- 
ence, " Live and Learn" will settle many disputes. It ought to be on every 
table, and be particularly recommended to the young, before habit makes 
common blunders uncommon hard to cure. 

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
" Live and Learn" is an excellent book. To show our appreciation of its 
merits we have had it cased in leather, and have made a pocket companion 
of it. We look upon it as really indispensible. We advise our readers to 
imitate our example — procure the book and sell it not for any price — Edu- 
cational Gazette. 

Such a book as this has long been wanted .by those who entertain the 
wish alluded to in the title. It is suitable for all classes. We have atten- 
tively conned its pages, and can ^eeommend it as one of the best works of 
reference for the young student, or even the ripe scholar, and as deserving 
to be generally eonsuitcd. The work is altogether useful and indispensible. 
— Nevj York Tribune. 

This book, particularly intended as a work of reference for the solution 
of difficulties connected with grammar, composition and punctuation, etc., 
etc., will be found useful by those who have not received a sound elementa- 
ry education and who neverthsless move in position. — Daily Times. 

This capital work not only gives examples of over 1000 mistakes, but it 
gives rules for their correction so clear, so terse, and at once so simple that 
the most ordinary mind cannot fail to comprehend their meaning. This is 
one of the chief beauties of " Live and Learn," for what is the use of point- 
ing out a grammatical error without giving a key to its correction ? There 
has been several catchpenny works on this subject lately issued. They tell 
the reader that mistakes exist, but give no rule for their avoidance. If you 
want a really good work, buy " Live and Learn." 
Send cash orders to DICK & FITZGERALD, 

No. 18 Ann St. N. Y. 



'y 



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